SAILOR 


AMELIA  C.BftRR 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


She  Loved  a 
Sailor 


New  York 
Dodd,  Mead  &  Company 


Copyright  1890,  1891 

by 

DODD,  MEAD  &  COMPANY 
All  rights  reserved 


PS 

CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  PAGE 

I.  LOVE  AS  A  SAILOR,       .....  i 

II.  JANE  KETELTAS, 13 

III.  NELLY  HAWORTH, 36 

IV.  JANE'S  LOVER,  ......  56 

V.  A  LITTLE  LOVE  AND  A  LITTLE  MONET,     .  73 

VI  LOVES  RENUNCIATION,     ....  93 

VII.  "  WEDDING  AND  THIS  WILL  Do,  WEDDING 

AND  WORSE  WILL  NEVER  Do,"    .        .  in 

VIII.  LOVE  4.ND  LIGHT  WILL  NOT  HIDE,        .  131 

IX.  MR.  AND  MRS.  FORFAR,      .        .        .        .152 

X.  A  FAMOUS  ELECTION 174 

XI.  THE  BROAD  GATEWAY  OF  WRONG,      .        .  202 

XII.  THE  HAND  OF  WOMAN 227 

XIII.  READY  TO  PERISH, 247 

XIV.  BAD  AT  BES~    .                          ...  268 
XV.  INVINCIBLE  LOVE, 289 

XVI.  A  TRIP  TO  ENGLAND,       ....  306 

XVII.  FIRE  ! 328 

XVIII.  IT  FARED  THUS, 354 

XIX.  OVERTAKEN, 387 

XX.  FORFAR  PAYS  ALL  DEBTS,       .        .        .  409 

XXI.  THE  HAVEN  WHERE  THEY  WOULD  BE,      .  428 


2061655 


SHE  LOVED  A  SAILOR. 


CHAPTER    I. 

LOVE  AS  A  SAILOR. 

"  Far,  far  upon  the  sea, 

The  good  ship  speeding  free, 
Upon  the  deck  we  gather,  young  and  old, 

And  view  the  flapping  sail, 

Spreading  out  before  the  gale, 
Full  and  round,  without  a  wrinkle  or  a  fold  ; 

Or  watch  the  wave's  that  glide 

By  the  stately  vessel's  side, 

And  the  wild  sea  birds  that  follow  through  the  ail  ; 
Oh  !  gayly  goes  the  ship  when  the  wind  blows  fair !  * 

*'  Follow,  follow,  round  the  earth, 
The  green  earth  and  the  sea  ; 
So  love  is  with  the  lover's  heart, 
Wherever  he  may  be." 

WHEN  the  very  old  men  of  this  generation 
were  very  young  men,  some  of  them  may 
have  stood  upon  the  banks  of  the  East  River 
and  watched  the  "Arethusa"  come  flying  in 
before  the  wind,  her  deck  crowded  with  home, 
coming  Americans,  and  the  English  mail  safe 
in  her  hold.  She  was  a  favorite  packet  ship  in 
those  days  when  Andrew  Jackson  reigned  at 


2  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

Washington  and  William  the  Fourth  sat  on  the 
throne  of  England  ;  when  the  names  of  Cal- 
houn  and  Benton,  Clay  and  Webster,  were  on 
every  American's  lips  ;  and  in  England  a  young 
man  called  Disraeli  was  beginning  to  be  spoken 
of  as  a  successful  novelist  and  a  very  unsuccess 
ful  politician. 

On  September  the  eleventh,  A.  D.  1833,  the 
"Arethusa"  was  approaching  the  American 
shore.  The  sky  and  the  sea  were  exquisitely 
serene,  and  a  tone  of  happy  expectancy  and 
pleasant  preparation  filled  the  ship  all  day  with 
movement,  with  eager  calls  for  attention,  and 
with  hurried,  smiling  salutations.  But  with  the 
deepening  twilight  and  the  uprising  moon,  there 
fell  upon  the  little  floating  world  a  growing 
stillness.  For  tranquillity  and  darkness  are  the 
powers  that  call  forth  the  hidden  sweetness  of 
life  ;  and  this  is  specially  so  at  sea,  when  the 
waters  are  brooding  in  the  calm,  celestial  light 
of  the  moon. 

Some  of  the  passengers  leaned  over  the  taff- 
rails,  smoking  and  talking  softly  ;  others  sat 
dreaming  of  incoherent  and  mysterious  things. 
The  deep  hush  of  .the  fathomless,  colorless 
waste  of  waters  dulled  all  minds ;  ideas  were 
few  and  slow.  It  was  the  hour  of  the  heart. 
and,  if  intellect  were  busy  at  all,  its  con 
ceptions  were  unsubstantial  as  the  woof  of 
dreams. 

The    night   was    warm,    the    ship    jogging 


LOVE   AS  A    SAILOK.  3 

quietly  along,  and  there  was  not  a  sail  in 
sight.  Several  ladies  were  on  deck,  and  the 
beautiful  Virginia  Mason  was  walking  silently 
with  the  Captain.  Frequently  he  cast  his 
eyes  down  upon  her  fair  face  and  tall,  graceful 
figure.  In  the  mystical  moonlight  she  looked 
like  a  vision.  He  might  have  been  walking 
in  a  dream,  so  fateful  and  irresistible  was  the 
spell  that  bound  him.  Speech  was  as  impos 
sible  as  it  was  useless  and  hopeless.  For 
though  Captain  Bradford,  on  the  deck  of  his 
own  ship,  might  offer  his  arm  to  Virginia  Ma 
son,  he  knew  that  when  he  had  brought  her 
safely  to  her  native  land,  his  opportunity  was 
over.  She  would  remember  him  only  as  one 
who  had  served  her  well  ;  but  he, — he  must 
carry  in  his  heart,  till  its  last  faint  beat,  the 
memory  of  her  loveliness  and  sweetness. 

These  were  always  his  first  thoughts  when 
he  saw  her  ;  but  it  was  very  rarely  that  second 
thoughts  did  not  bring  with  them  that  confi 
dence  which  springs  from  conscious  desert  and 
inextinguishable  hope.  He  loved  her  with  no 
fancied  or  simulated  passion.  At  the  first  mo 
ment  when  she  charmed  his  eyes,  he  gave  to 
her  his  whole  heart  ;  and  instantly  all  the 
lighter  loves  of  his  past  years  were  hateful  in 
his  memory.  Hope,  renunciation,  and  despair 
had  made  the  three  weeks  of  the  voyage  a  life 
time  of  joy  and  torture.  It  was  nearly  over. 
To-morrow  they  might  part  forever. 


4  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

The  thought  gave  him  a  desperate  courage. 
Kw  v^Jk-0^  to  the  stern  of  the  ship,  and  they 
•  civ.  lown  there.  She  let  him  fold  a  rug  for 
her  feet  and  clasp  her  cloak  round  her  throat, 
and  the  service  was  such  honor  that  it  set 
him  upon  the  pinnacle  of  joy.  All  that 
he  had  thought  to  say  vanished  from  his 
mind;  he  was  silent,  but  it  was  a  silence 
penetrated  with  his  personality  and  his  longing. 

"  Look  at  the  men  in  the  rigging,  Captain. 
They  go  creeping  about  like  men  in  a  dream. 
What  are  they  doing  ?  " 

"  The  wind  is  rising  ;  they  are  spreading  the 
canvas ;  we  shall  soon  be  strutting  with  the 
breeze.  It  has  brought  into  our  wake  a 
strange  vessel." 

"  I  see  her.  How  she  spreads  her  wings 
and  flies  toward  us!  " 

"  If  the  breeze  lasts,  we  shall  doubtless  be 
in  New  York  to-morrow.  Is  that  good 
news? " 

His  voice  was  passionately  sad.  She  could 
not  but  lift  her  eyes,  and  his  eyes  met  hers 
with  a  question  in  them  she  had  often  asked 
herself — a  question  hard  to  answer ;  she  had 
been  afraid  to  bring  it  to  argument.  But  the 
strength  of  Love's  reason  lies  in  its  despite  of 
reason.  Virginia's  lover  was  most  eloquent, 
because  she  divined  that  for  her  sake  he  was 
silent. 

She  looked   shvlv  at  him.     He  was  exceed- 


LOVE  AS  A    SAILOR.  5 

ingly  handsome,  and  his  blue  uniform,  with  its 
ornaments  of  gold  braid  and  buttons,  set  off 
finely  a  tall,  well-knit  figure,  supple  and  strong 
and  full  of  manly  grace.  He  had  a  large 
countenance  tanned  with  wind  and  sun ;  and 
on  his  clustering  curls  of  short  brown  hair 
rested  the  gold  band  of  the  sailor's  cap  which 
partially  covered  them.  But  it  was  not  these 
physical  advantages,  so  much  as  his  simple 
frankness,  his  modest  na'ivett,  his  blunt  down- 
rightness  to  men,  and  his  courteous  gallantry 
to  women,  which  had  touched  both  Virginia's 
fancy  and  sympathy  on  their  very  best  side. 

So  she  looked  up  at  the  question,  and  then 
looked  far  off  to  sea  to  answer  it.  "  It  is 
partly  good  news.  I  shall  be  very  sorry  to 
leave  the  'Arefhusa'  ;  I  shall  be  very  glad  to 
see  my  home  again." 

"  Will  you  remember  the  ship  ?  " 

"  I  think  I  shall  go  sailing  in  her  through 
many  a  happy  dream." 

"  And  shall  I  be  her  captain?  " 

He  spoke  in  a  whisper,  and,  as  Virginia  did 
not  immediately  answer,  his  heart  failed  him, 
and  the  personal  pride  which  was  his  weak 
point  chilled  the  sensitive  current  in  which 
both  had  been  drifting  to  the  same  happy 
point.  Virginia  was  instantly  conscious  of 
the  change.  She  shivered  slightly,  and  said  : 
"  The  wind  is  really  rising.  It  will  be  better 
for  me  to  go  down-stairs." 


6  SHE  LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

Then  the  Captain  set  his  lips  firmly,  and 
gave  her  his  arm.  He  thought  she  understood 
and  reproved  him,  and  he  was  too  honest- 
hearted  to  cover  his  sorrow  and  chagrin  with 
meaningless  words.  In  absolute  silence  he  led 
her  to  the  foot  of  the  companion-way,  and 
then,  lifting  his  cap,  he  bowed  the  "adieu"  he 
could  not  find  heart  to  utter.  It  was  a  most 
unhappy  parting,  promising  to  both  a  wakeful 
and  miserable  night. 

Major  Thomas  Mason  was  sitting  with  a 
number  of  gentlemen,  who  were  discussing 
with  great  warmth  the  policy  of  President 
Jackson.  He  rose  when  his  daughter  appeared, 
and  supported  her  to  the  door  of  her  state 
room.  Fortunately,  she  had  no  companion  ; 
she  could  slip  the  bolt  and  be  alone  with  the 
strange,  wistful  longing  and  sorrow  that  in 
vaded  her.  "Is  this  love?"  She  asked  her 
heart  the  question,  and  felt  it  sweetly  beating 
the  answer  in  every  throbbing  pulse.  Involun 
tarily  she  smiled,  and  the  light  that  spread 
over  her  face  was  the  light  she  had  caught 
from  her  lover's  face  as  they  walked  the  deck 
together. 

"  He  is  so  true  !  so  great  in  all  things  !  And 
he  loves  me ;  I  fill  his  life  !  He  is  thinking  of 
me  now  !  In  the  morning  I  will  speak  kindly 
to  him  !  I  will  give  him  something  to  do  for 
me  !  I  will  make  him  happy  !  " 

In  the  morning   the    kind    intent    was   stiM 


LOVE  AS  A    SAILOR.  7 

stronger.  She  could  not  dismiss  the  face,  at 
once  so  imploring  and  despairing,  which  had 
set  itself  in  the  gloom  of  the  companion-way 
the  previous  evening — the  face  of  the  man  that 
loved  her.  She  had  had  no  intention  of  mak 
ing  him  miserable,  but  the  things  we  do 
from  design  are  of  small  account  compared 
with  those  which  we  do  beyond  our  fore 
thought. 

She  went  on  deck  very  early,  while  as  yet 
the  damp,  fresh  air  had  in  it  the  flavor  of  brine. 
Her  heart  was  troubled  and  sad  ;  she  knew  lit 
tle  of  it ;  the  secret  thoughts  of  love  were  all 
unexplored  ;  her  experience  had  revealed  noth 
ing  to  her.  She  stood  looking  at  the  gray- 
green  waves,  and  the  gulls  above  them  seeking 
with  cold  dull  eyes  their  dead  prey.  The  fog 
was  still  in  the  beards  of  the  sailors,  and  they 
were  moving  about  the  deck  and  the  rigging 
in  a  quiet,  mournful  way. 

She  speedily  began  to  feel  as  if  she  had  been 
too  eager  in  her  kindness.  There  was  a  tumult 
of  indecision  in  her  heart.  She  drew  her  cloak 
tightly  around  her,  as  if  by  so  doing  she  could 
draw  herself  from  all  outward  influences.  Then 
she  saw  Captain  Bradford  coming  toward  her, 
He  was  not  conscious  of  her  presence,  and  he 
was  carrying  his  head  high,  with  an  indifferent, 
domineering  look.  It  was  the  mask  behind 
which  he  was  hiding  his  sense  of  failure,  but 
Virginia  could  not  know  this,  and  his  face 


8  SHE  LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

frightened   her  a   little,  and   made   her   more 
cautious  than  she  had  intended  to  be. 

Marius  felt  her  glance  instantly  and  he  came 
quickly  to  her  side  ;  his  face  fresh  and  damp 
with  sea  fog,  but  stamped  with  the  mystical 
self-signature  of  a  man  who  knew  how  to  sub 
jugate  his  will,  and  be  Caesar  unto  himself. 
Virginia  had  for  a  moment  a  womanly  fear 
that  she  had  lost  her  influence  over  him  ;  his 
influence  over  her  had  never  been  so  pro 
nounced.  He  was  not  only  a  part  of  her  own 
vague  longings  and  unrest,  but  the  prodigious 
disquiet  of  the  ocean — the  rustling  of  the  salt 
air — the  bitter  spray — the  veiling  fog — the  ever 
lasting  threat  of  stormy  winds — were  the  atmos 
phere  in  which  she  set  this  Sailor  on  the  Sea, 
absolute  within  the  bounds  covered  by  the 
white  sails  that  were  spread  or  furled  at  his 
command. 

The  authoritative  manner,  seen  but  for  a 
moment,  had  conquered  her,  as  power  of  any 
kind  conquers.  And  of  all  professions,  that  of 
a  sailor  touches  the  heart  and  the  imagination 
of  women  most  deeply.  The  gay  uniform  of 
the  soldier,  his  sword  and  rifle  and  martial 
music,  may  win  a  passing  favor  ;  but  woman's 
deepest  enthusiasm  is  for  the  sailor  in  his  con 
stant  warfare  with  illimitable  and  mysterious 
forces.  He  comes  before  her  mind  in  a  thou 
sand  heroic,  picturesque  situations,  the  embodi 
ment  of  all  that  is  tender  and  gallant  and  brave. 


LOVE   AS  A    SAILOR,  9 

It  seemed  almost  as  if  the  lovers  had  at  the 
moment  of  their  meeting  changed  feelings, 
Virginia  was  timid  and  embarrassed,  the  Cap 
tain  reflected  the  despotic  moods  of  the  long, 
wakeful  night.  During  it  he  had  frequently 
told  himself  that  he  would  accept  the  position 
to  which  Virginia's  refusal  to  answer  his  preg 
nant  question  relegated  him.  He  must  always 
love  her,  but  he  would  so  far  honor  his  love  as 
to  hide  it  in  his  heart.  When  next  it  asked 
recognition  there  must  be  a  certainty  it  would 
find  a  favorable  answer. 

Virginia  advanced  a  step  or  two  to  meet 
him,  and  put  out  her  small  gloved  hand.  He 
looked  at  her  with  shining  eyes,  and  clasped 
the  suggestive  peacemaker  with  an  honest  fer 
vor.  They  walked  thus  to  the  stern  of  the 
vessel,  and  stood  there  gazing  at  the  white 
wake  and  the  sea  gulls. 

"  I  have  been  watching  them,"  said  Virginia,, 
"  They  seem  so  indifferent  to  everything 
but  eating;  at  that  they  labor  imperturba- 
bly." 

"  I  do  not  like  to  see  them  in  such  numbers. 
When  the  gulls  spread  their  wings  it  is  time 
for  the  ship  to  furl  hers.  There  are  men  on 
every  ship  that  believe  them  to  be  the  spirits  of 
drowned  sailors." 

(i  I  think  they  are  the  air  and  the  sea  and 
the  elements  which  have  taken  wings  to  them 
selves.  They  never  can  have  been  human  and 


io  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

loved  anything.  Look  at  their  eyes,  so  stern 
and  cold  and  cruel!" 

"  I  have  seen  human  eyes  like  them.  There 
was  a  gull  that  haunted  a  ship  I  knew.  The 
captain  swore  it  was  a  dead  mate  whom  he  had 
hated.  Day  after  day  he  tried  to  shoot  it. 
He  never  could." 

"  Now  I  can  feel  why  you  do  not  permit  the 
passengers  to  fire  at  them." 

"It  is  very  unlucky;  no  doubt  about  it. 
Who  can  tell  how  or  where  the  soul  loses  itself 
on  its  long  journey  upward  ?  You  will  call  this 
the  most  illogical  of  talk.  I  often  think  things 
I  do  not  pretend  to  understand.  The  sun  will 
drive  away  the  mist  soon,  and  we  shall  see  land 
all  around  us.  Then  it  will  be  the  parting 
word,  Miss  Mason.  Is  it  to  be  forever  ? 
I  think  you  should  answer  me  that  ques 
tion." 

"  It  is  not  to  be  forever,  Captain  Bradford." 
She  drew  a  narrow  strip  of  pink  silk  from  her 
glove,  and  said : 

"  I  bought  a  dress  like  this  at  Burton's,  on 
Bold  Street,  Liverpool.  I  want  two  yards 
more  of  the  same  silk.  Will  you  bring  it  on 
your  next  voyage  ?  " 

"  If  there  is  any  silk  like  it  in  England,  I 
will  bring  it  when  I  come  again." 

"  Our  house  is  near  Great  Jones  Street ;  that 
is  a  long  way.  Will  you  bring  it  to  the  house, 
or  shall  I  send  to  the  ship  for  it?" 


LOVE   AS  A    SAILOR.  II 

"  If  your  house  was  at  the  end  of  the  world, 
I  would  gladly  bring  it  in  my  own  hands." 

"  Then  we  shall  meet  again.  Here  is  the 
sunshine,  and  the  fog  is  turning  to  a  golden 
haze,  and  hark  !  how  that  man  huddled  up  in 
the  '  waist '  is  singing."  They  listened  a  few 
moments,  and  then  the  Captain  hummed 
gayly  : 

A  sailor's  life  is  the  life  for  me  ; 
He  takes  his  duty  merrily. 
If  winds  can  whistle,  he  can  sing, 
Ready  for  all  the  sea  can  bring. 
Beloved  by  mates,  he  loves  his  ship, 
And  toasts  his  girl,  and  drinks  his  flip  ; 
And  this  is  the  life  of  a  sailor. 

The  melody  was  simple  and  monotonous, 
and  Virginia  swayed  gently  to  its  time  and 
movement.  But  the  sense  of  land  was  momen 
tarily  growing  stronger ;  the  passengers  were 
full  of  exclamations  and  excitement  ;  two 
news-boats  were  shouting  for  English  papers, 
and  a  pilot  waiting  to  be  taken  on  board. 
The  Captain  could  no  longer  delay.  He 
looked  at  her  steadily,  and  said  : 

"  I  may  not  be  able  to  see  you  again  at  this 
time.  If  I  hoped  you  would  remember !  " 

"  I  will  forget  nothing."  And  she  held  his 
gaze  for  a  moment  with  the  soft  brilliance  of 
her  own.  In  that  flash  each  saw  a  vision  of 
things  invisible  to  others.  Both  were  under 
an  influence  too  strong  and  sweet  to  be  re 
sisted,  and  it  said  to  both  alike,  "  Do  all  your 


12  SHE  LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

heart  tells  you.  Remember  how  august  it  is. 
It  contains  the  temple  of  love  and  of  con 
science,  and  a  whisper  is  heard  from  the 
extremity  of  one  to  the  extremity  of  the 
other." 

The  day  afterward  was  long  and  wearisome. 
They  were  in  sight  of  New  York  ;  they  were 
in  the  midst  of  vessels  and  schooners  and 
coast  steamers  passing  to  and  fro  with  swag 
gering  turmoil;  but  many  delays  retarded 
their  progress,  and  it  was  nearly  sunset  when 
the  "  Arethusa"  cast  anchor  at  her  slip  on  the 
East  River.  The  Captain  was  on  the  gang 
way.  He  bid  Major  Mason  a  courteous  fare 
well,  and  lifted  his  cap  once  more  to  the  girl 
who  took  his  heart  and  hopes  with  her.  A 
carriage  was  in  waiting  ;  there  was  a  sudden 
lifting  of  her  head.  It  was  like  a  last  tender 
thought.  Then,  fora  moment,  Captain  Marius 
Bradford  felt  as  if  life  was  over. 


CHAPTER   II. 

JANE    KETELTAS. 

"  How  small  of  all  that  human  hearts  endure, 

That  part  which  laws  or  kings  can  cause  or  CUT*  I* 

"  O  Mother  Holland  !  true  and  deep, 
Below  all  fresher  loves  we  keep 

A  thought  of  thee  ; 
Though  generations  come  and  go, 
A  thought  that  still  will  burn  and  glow 

In  memory. 

Ah  me  !  how  sweet  is  love  itself  possess'd, 
When  but  love's  shadows  are  so  rich  in  joy  !  ** 

IT  had  begun  to  rain  when  they  left  the 
ship,  and  before  their  home  in  the  upper 
part  of  the  city  was  reached  they  were  in  the 
midst  of  the  storm.  But  ere  morning  it  had 
rained  its  passion  away,  and  the  day  broke 
sunny  and  clear-skied.  Major  Mason's  resi 
dence  was  one  of  those  square  Georgian 
houses,  with  large,  lofty  rooms,  which  were 
so  emblematical  of  the  solid  days  in  which 
they  were  the  fashion.  These  rooms  were  full 
of  handsome  furniture,  and  the  wide  stairway 
of  carved  wood  rose  boldly  up  from  the  broad 
central  hall.  There  was  a  small  garden  at  the 
northern  end  of  the  house,  and  a  much  larger 
13 


'4  SHE   LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

one  behind  it,  and  upon  its  fragrant  space  the 
breakfast  parlor  opened. 

Here  Virginia  found  her  father  when  she 
came  down-stairs  the  next  morning.  He  was 
standing  on  the  hearthrug  with  a  newspaper 
in  his  hand.  The  south  wind  blowing  in 
through  the  open  window  brought  with  it  a 
fresh  scent  from  the  wet,  late  flowers ;  and  the 
whole  room  had  that  air  of  refinement  and 
comfort  which  comes  from  a  fine  sense  of  its 
purpose.  Everything  seemed  to  belong  to  it 
specially,  from  the  large  open  secretary  to  the 
small  round  table  with  its  white  damask  cloth 
and  its  service  of  pink  china  and  sterling 
silver. 

"Good  morning,  dear  father!  How  deli 
cious  is  the  earthy  smell  of  the  garden  !  " 

"  Very — after  so  much  brine  and  " — he  was 
going  to  say  bilge-water;  but  he  looked  at  his 
daughter,  and  could  not  utter  a  word  with  an 
uncleanly  association  in  her  presence. 

With  small  white  hands  she  was  rearranging 
the  pink  cups  and  saucers  and  the  shining 
silver.  Her  dress  of  fawn  chali  fell  in  long, 
soft  folds  to  her  sandaled  feet.  A  deep  collar 
of  embroidered  India  muslin  encircled  her 
throat,  and  cuffs  of  the  same  were  turned  back 
at  the  wrists  to  confine  the  large  sleeves.  Her 
brown  hair  was  braided  down  each  side  of  the 
face  in  berthes,  and  fastened  high  on  her  head 
with  a  large  Spanish  comb  of  shell ;  and  the 


JAXE   KETELTAS.  15 

knots  of  pink  ribbon  which  brightened  the 
whole  costume  gave  her  a  fresh  and  cherry  at- 
mosphere,  like  that  which  surrounds  a  tree  of 
living  roses. 

"  You  are  fresh  as  a  flower,  Virginia." 

"  You  too,  sir,  look  very  well ;  yet  there  is 
a  worry-line  across  your  brow.  Is  anything 
wrong,  father?" 

"  Wrong  !  Everything  is  wrong.  President 
Jackson  seems  to  think  he  knows  how  to  man 
age  the  purse  of  the  country  as  well  as  he 
knew  how  to  wield  the  sword  of  the  country. 
Nicholas  Biddle " 

"  Oh  !  that  old  Bank  quarrel ;  I  thought  you 
had  argued  that  question  out  on  the  '  Arethusa' 
to  the  very  last  letter.  I  heard  Mr.  Kane  say 
that  Jackson  was  an  autocrat — a  tyrant — an 
irresponsible  czar — a " 

"^Nonsense  !  Kane,  indeed  !  How  can 
Kane,  or  any  mere  civilian,  judge  President 
Jackson?  When  the  people  made  him  Presi 
dent  again,  they  must  have  known,  from  all 
his  past  career,  that  he  would  always  rule  like 
a  commander-in-chief." 

"  I  cannot  understand  why  he,  being  Presi 
dent  of  the  United  States,  should  wage  war  on 
the  United  States  Bank." 

"  My  dear  Virginia,  can  you  understand  why 
the  Bank  should  wage  war  upon  the  Govern 
ment  ?  The  fact  that  it  is  doing  so  is  proof 
positive  of  the  evil  of  the  institution.  Political 


16  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

power  ought  to  be  regulated  by  the  will  of  the 
people.     Can  you  imagine   President  Jackson 
permitting    any    monetary    consolidation     to 
usurp  the   right  of  the  people?     He  will  give 
every  member  of  it  military  law  first." 
"  President  Jackson's  law,  you  mean  ?  " 
"Yes,  Miss,  President  Jackson's  law." 
"  Father,    I    am   a  little  tired  of   President 
Jackson.     Doubtless  he  is  a  great  man,  and 
doth  bestride  our  whole  country  like  a  Colos 
sus,  but  I  am  far  more  interested  in  our  trunks  ; 
and   I  was  talking  to  Mrs.  Duane  last  night 
about   the   house,  and  she  says  the  drawing- 
room  needs  a  new  carpet." 

"  When  stocks  rise,  and  rents  are  paid  ;  but 

in  the  mean  time,  Virginia, "  and  he  shook 

his  handsome  head  mournfully  to  express  the 
alternative.  Then  a  servant  entered  with 
breakfast,  and,  while  he  busied  himself  with  its 
arrangement,  father  and  daughter  stood  to 
gether,  and  Major  Mason  let  his  eyes  fall  once 
more  upon  the  offensive  article  he  had  been 
reading. 

Above  their  heads  was  an  old  picture,  the 
likeness  of  one  Geoffrey  Mason,  who  had 
fled  for  conscience  sake  to  the  Plymouth 
Colony  in  A.  D.  1676,  and  who  had  been  the 
founder  of  the  American  branch  of  the  family. 
The  resemblance  between  the  men  was  remark 
able,  though  they  were  altogether  dissimilar. 
Geoffrey  Mason  had  possessed  all  the  bluff  red- 


JANE  KETELTAS.  17 

and-white  comeliness  which  is  the  sign  of  the 
Anglo-Saxon  race.  But  for  a  century  after 
his  settlement,  constant  attrition  with  adverse 
forces,  spiritual  and  temporal,  had  been  a  refin 
ing  and  sharpening  process.  The  spirit  threw 
off  with  each  generation  a  portion  of  its  fleshly 
swaddling  bands,  and  the  Masons,  without  los 
ing  their  lofty  stature,  grew  spare  and  muscular. 
In  this  refinement  the  intellectual  life  also 
shared  ;  it  had  become,  as  it  were,  oxidized  in 
the  elements  of  struggle  and  conquest  which 
marked  the  beginnings  of  American  empire. 
Indeed,  the  word  "oxidized"  fitted  the  change 
very  well,  for  though  the  keener  life  represented 
by  oxygen  had  been  largely  assimilated,  the 
combination  had  seldom  produced  an  acid 
nature  among  them. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  past  century  another 
Geoffrey  Mason  left  his  rocky  farm  in  Massachu 
setts,  and  sought  in  New  York  a  wider  arena. 
He  made  a  little  money,  which  his  son  Arthur 
increased  a  thousand-fold.  Then  the  grandson 
John  had  time  and  means  for  study  and  travel, 
and  the  great-grandson  Thomas  had  inherited 
all  the  advantages  of  the  four  generations  popu 
larly  supposed  necessary  for  the  evolution  of  a 
gentleman. 

Thomas  had  military  instincts,  and  they  had 
been  well  nurtured  by  an  association  with  Gen 
eral  Jackson  in  his  most  brilliant  campaigns. 
However,  as  the  enthusiasm  of  youth  evapo- 


18  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

rated,  other  instincts,  equally  strong,  asserted 
themselves.  He  thought  that  it  was  entirely 
for  his  wife's  and  daughter's  sake  he  so  early 
abandoned  military  life  ;  but  in  reality  his  tastes 
led  him  to  be  a  dilettante  patron  of  music  and 
art,  an  observer  of  men,  and  a  tireless  reader  of 
books. 

On  his  father's  death  he  sold  the  Mason 
residence  near  the  Battery,  and  build  for  him 
self  the  much  more  splendid  house  in  which 
he  now  stood  by  his  daughter's  side  grumbling 
at  those  malcontents  who  did  not  echo  the 
opinions  of  his  favorite  hero.  The  building  of 
this  mansion  had  not  escaped  the  notice  of 
that  Fate  which  so  often  demands  a  sacrifice 
for  homes  that  are  monuments  to  accumulated 
wealth  and  human  pride.  The  Masons  had 
scarcely  entered  it  when  the  sacrifice  was  re 
quired.  Mrs.  Mason  was  said  to  have  taken  a 
cold  and  died  from  an  inflammation.  But  who 
has  the  oracle  of  their  death?  What  human 
prescience  has  foreseen  the  spot  of  earth  on 
which  the  soul  must  go  to  meet  its  fate  ?  Be 
it  near  at  hand,  or  far,  far  off,  there  is  a  Des 
tiny  or  a  Nemesis  in  it  beyond  our  understand 
ing. 

Such  thoughts  were  not  strange  to  Major 
Mason's  mind,  but  at  this  hour  he  was  alto 
gether  occupied  by  the  political  aspects  of  his 
time.  And  as  he  stood  beneath  his  ancestor, 
the  mysterious  influence  of  lineage  was  re« 


JANE   KETELTAS.  1 9 

imarkably  clear,  though  its  source  was  too 
subtle  to  bear  definition.  Perhaps  it  was  hid 
den  in  the  broad  brow,  or  the  large,  round, 
open  eye  which  both  alike  possessed ;  or  in 
that  peculiar  expression  called  into  all  faces 
where  political  or  national  questions  put  per 
sonal  ones  aside. 

Father  and  daughter  sat  down  to  their 
breakfast  with  a  flash  of  intelligent  gratitude. 
The  country  might  be  going  to  ruin,  but  the 
sense  of  home  was  sweet ;  and  the  coffee  and 
the  fish  and  the  steak  and  hot  biscuit  consid 
erably  modified  the  Major's  ideas  of  its  possi 
ble  salvation.  After  all,  New  York  was  to  be 
relied  on  ;  he  could  always  put  his  trust  in  his 
native  city.  Then  he  remembered  that  in 
coming  from  the  packet  he  had  noticed  a  great 
blank  on  Chatham  Street.  He  had  been  told 
that  there  was  to  be  a  large  hotel  built  there; 
and  he  reminded  Virginia  of  the  circumstance. 

"  As  I  go  to  the  Custom  House,  I  shall  see 
what  changes  have  been  made,  and  call  upon 
some  friends  in  Park  Place,"  he  said. 

"  And  as  unpacking  is  out  of  the  question 
to-day,  I  will  go  and  see  Jane  Keteltas." 

"  Give  my  respects  to  her  father.  I  dare 
say  he  is  all  nose  at  present,  following  Jack 
son  like  a  sleuth-hound.  But  'he  is  a  very 
good  son  of  old  Holland.  Tell  him  we  have 
been  there,  and  that  it  stands  just  where  it 
did." 


20  SHE    LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

John  Paul  Keteltas  lived  much  further 
north  than  the  Masons ;  in  fact,  his  house, 
though  now  in  the  center  of  the  city,  was  then 
in  the  suburbs.  It  was  a  commodious  wooden 
dwelling,  surrounded  by  maple  trees,  and 
standing  in  the  midst  of  a  fair  garden.  This 
morning  it  was  gay  with  dahlias  and  mari 
golds,  and  the  wide  Dutch  porch  was  a  mass 
of  red  and  blue  morning  glories. 

Jane,  sitting  at  an  upper  window,  had  seen 
the  approach  of  her  friend,  and  was  standing 
at  the  open  gate  to  meet  her.  She  was  a 
small  but  strikingly  handsome  girl,  with  a 
brilliant  color,  and  a  great  quantity  of  very 
light  hair.  Her  manner  was  warm  and  impul 
sive,  and  her  large  gray  eyes  were  brimming 
with  sensibility  and  willfulness. 

They  went  hand-in-hand  into  a  parlor  off 
the  main  hall — a  large  room,  very  somberly 
furnished,  with  an  antiquated  oak  sideboard, 
very  much  carved,  and  almost  black  with  age. 
There  were  chairs  to  match  it,  and  a  large 
table,  and  a  Fricsland  cuckoo  clock,  with  its 
silver-sounding  chimes.  At  the -table  a  man 
of  sixty  years  of  age  was  sitting.  He  had 
white  hair  and  a  fresh  color  in  his  cheeks. 
His  coat,  of  a  precise  cut,  had  a  high  standing 
collar,  and  he  wore  a  neckcloth  of  India  mus 
lin,  folded  with  an  extreme  exactness. 

He  was  writing  and  examining  documents, 
some  loose  like  open  bills,  others  folded  in  the 


JANE  KETELTAS.  21 

long,  business-like  suggestiveness  of  leases  and 
contracts.  Virginia's  entrance  seemed  to  give 
him  pleasure  ;  he  pushed  aside  his  papers  and 
put  his  elbows  on  the  table,  in  order  to  ques 
tion  her  more  comfortably.  After  a  variety 
of  inquiries,  he  asked  the  name  of  the  packet 
on  which  they  had  come,  and  when  Virginia 
said  the  "  Arethusa,"  he  uttered  a  significant 
"  Humph-h  !  "  and  looked  at  his  daughter,  who 
at  the  same  moment  threw  up  her  pretty 
hands,  with  an  exclamation  : 

"  Eh,  what  did  you  say  ?  The  '  Arethusa  '  ? 
Was  Captain  Nigel  Forfar  on  her?  " 

"I  saw  him  frequently,  sir;  and  my  father 
talked  with  him.  But  he  was  either  very 
proud  or  very  shy  ;  he  kept  much  to  himself." 

"  Proud  !  Well,  I  can  imagine  it.  The  For- 
fars  are  the  first-born  of  all  creation,  in  their 
own  opinion.  There's  no  remedy  for  pride, 
my  dear,  when  it  is  born  in  a  man.  But  shy? 
Pray  why  should  he  be  shy  ?  He  was  in  the 
army  until  his  father  went  the  way  of  all  flesh. 
Did  you  notice,  my  dear,  if  he  was — like  me, 
for  instance?  " 

Virginia  laughed  merrily.  "  Oh,  no,  sir ; 
not  at  all.  He  is  very  dark  and  swarthy,  and 
thin,  and  tall." 

"  But  not  disagreeable,  eh  !  my  dear  ?  " 

"  Indeed,  sir,  he  is  quite  handsome,  but  he 
was  not  a  favorite  ;  so  domineering  and  ill- 
tempered  was  he." 


22  SHE  LOl'l-.D   A    SAILOR. 

"The  Forfars  are  masterful  ;  Nigel's  father 
had  that  way  with  him ;  they  like  to  be  first 
whatever  will  come  of  it,  or  wherever  they  are." 

"  But  on  a  packet  ship  that  could  not  be, 
sir." 

"  Not  on  the  '  Arethusa,'  Captain  Marius 
Bradford  commanding.  For  he  is  a  born  au 
tocrat  when  he  gets  men  and  women  in  his 
power.  I  know !  I  know !  I  have  crossed 
twice  with  him,  and  I  have  heard  him  say,  do 
this  and  do  that,  and  go  there  and  come'here. 
The  Roman  centurion  must  have  been  a  mild- 
spoken  gentleman  in  comparison.  That's  what 
I  say." 

Virginia  was  red  as  a  rose,  and  she  looked 
at  him  with  eyes  so  full  of  contradiction  that 
he  understood  her  unspoken  denial,  and  added, 
with  an  air  of  candor: 

"  But  he's  very  polite  to  ladies,  and  he 
minded  his  ship  well,  and  he  met  a  storm  as  if 
he  was  delighted  to  see  it.  Doubtless  there 
are  worse  men  afloat  than  Marius  Bradford." 

"  Father  sent  his  respects  to  you,  Mr. 
Keteltas,  and  said  I  was  to  tell  you  that  Hol 
land  stands  where  she  did." 

"  Generally  speaking,  that  is  perhaps  true. 
Holland  is  not  moved  with  every  wind  of  doc 
trine  or  politics  that  blows.  It  is  not  her  mis 
sion  to  be  a  weathercock  for  other  nations  to 
take  warning  by.  Saw  you  Amsterdam,  my 
dear?" 


fANE  KETELTAS.  23 

"  Yes,  sir.  I  shall  always  see  at  the  naming 
of  the  word  the  long,  black  band  of  buildings 
stretching  out " 

"  Under  a  gray-blue  sky  of  wonderful  soft 
ness,  eh?  " 

"  And  the  thousands  of  roofs  and  gables, 
and  above  them  the  steeples  and  church 
towers,  with  their  campaniles  and  dark  balus 
trades." 

"  And  the  thousands  of  windows  framed  in 
white,  some  leaning  forward  and  some  back 
ward,  eh,  my  dear  ?  " 

"And  the  great  spreading  trees  shielding  the 
massive  slips  and  gateways  like  a  wall  of  ver 
dure,  sir?  " 

"  And  the  grave,  solid-looking  men  on  the 
streets,  and  the  sailors  on  the  quays,  with 
their  legs  hanging  over  them,  all  silent  and 
motionless,  smoking,  smoking,  smoking." 

"And  the  ringing  of  the  church  bells  above 
the  city  like  music  in  mid-air,  and  the  fresh 
wind  blowing  from  the  North  Sea,  sir?  " 

"  O  Amsterdam  !  fair  Amsterdam !  And 
there,  also,  my  dear,  you  would  hear  the  good 
Dutch?" 

"Yes,  sir.  I  did  not  understand  it,  but  my 
father  said  it  was  a  very  fine  language." 

"  My  dear,  the  finest  of  all  the  Gothic  dia 
lects  ;  rich,  strong,  sonorous." 

"  Very  sonorous,  sir  ;  but ' 

"  Listen  to  me.     I   must  say  you  a  verse  of 


24  SHI:    LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

the  good  Jacob  Westerbaen,  and  you  shall 
confess  it  is  a  very  suitable  one  : 

"  '  Moe  gewandelt,  moe  geseeten, 
Moe  gedronken,  moe  gegeeten, 
Moe  te  gast  gaen  alle  daegh, 
Bij  de  vrienden  in  den  Haegh, 
Raeckt — ik  weder  op  mijn  Huisje.'  " 

"  Indeed,  sir,  wonderfully  sonorous ;  it 
sounds  as  if  the  tongue  beat  its  words  out 
on  a  silver  anvil.  Now  you  must  also  translate 
for  me." 

John  Paul  was  delighted  with  the  task.  He 
was  at  his  best  when  his  nature  was  set  to  the 
tune  of  "  Holland."  His  rosy  face  shone  with 
pleasure,  his  blue  eyes  had  a  veiled  and 
softened  look,  his  voice  had  tones  in  it  which 
would  have  made  his  familiars  in  Wall  Street 
speculate  and  doubt  and  wonder,  as  the  trans 
lation  fell  with  the  proper  spirit  and  inflections 
from  his  lips  : 

Tired  with  wandering,  tired  with  sitting, 
Tired  with  drinking,  tired  with  eating, 
Tired  with  every  busy  plague, 
Feasting,  visiting  the  Hague, 
Here  again  I  find  a  dwelling. 

Then  he  was  himself  a  little  ashamed  of  his 
emotion  so  early  in  the  morning,  with  all  those 
vouchers  and  mortgages  at  his  finger  tips.  Yet 
he  was  diviner  for  these  few  moments,  though 
the  great  goddess  Utilitaria,  whom  John  Paul 
Keteltas  worshiped,  brought  him  sharply  back 
to  the  legitimate  business  of  the  hour. 


JANE   KETELTAS.  25 

"  Now  go  away  with  Jane,  my  dear,"  he 
said,  drawing  his  papers  quickly  under  his 
eyes.  "  Jane  is  wondering  if  I  have  lost  my 
senses,  I  see  that.  Go  away,  go  away  !  " 

They  went  up-stairs  together,  hand-in-hand, 
leaning  toward  each  other  with  low,  loving 
words  and  smiles.  For  they  were  true  soul- 
sisters,  and  their  affection  was  not  likely  to 
change  with  circumstances  nor  to  fade  away 
with  absence.  Virginia  had  come  with  a  long 
story  to  tell  of  her  travels  and  experience,  but 
all  events  seemed  tame  beside  the  unexpected 
visit  of  Captain  Nigel  Forfar. 

"  Before  old  Mr.  Forfar  died,  there  was,  I 
know,  some  correspondence  between  him  and 
my  father  about  me,"  said  Jane,  as  she  began 
to  lay  out  a  dress  of  pale  green  silk,  with  a 
pelerine  of  white  lace. 

"  About  you,  Jane  ?  " 

"  Yes.  Father  had  an  extraordinary  liking 
for  the  old  man.  They  had  been  playfellows 
and  schoolfellows,  and  there  must  have  been 
other  ties.  Why,  father  loaned  him  money 
when  he  wished  to  buy  the  plantation  next 
his  own,  and  I  feel  sure  they  had  a  plan  of 
marriage  between  Nigel  Forfar  and  myself." 

"  So  now  Nigel  Forfar  is  coming  to  look  at 
you.  That  is  not  a  pleasant  thought,  Jane. 
If  I  were  you,  I  would  refuse  to  see  him." 

"  Father  will  insist  upon  my  receiving  him ; 
and  I  rather  think  I  shall  like  to  do  so ;  but  if 


26  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

he  is  as  haughty  and  ill-natured  as  you  say,  I 
can  play  that  game  with  him.  The  Forfars, 
you  see,  are  a  very  old  Southern  family ;  and 
father  says  they  were  once  earls  of  Forfar. 
Forfar  is  in  Scotland,  I  think." 

"  Nonsense,  Jane.  I  do  not  believe  it. 
And  suppose  they  were?  The  dead  and  gone 
Forfars  are  nothing  to  yon,  and  as  for  the 
living  one,  I  think  little  of  him.  You  know, 
Jane,  at  sea  a  man's  real  character  is  apt  to 
show  itself,  and  Captain  Forfar  was  selfish  and 
ill-tempered  and  domineering." 

"  Then  would  you  wear  this  lovely  dress  for 
him,  Virginia?" 

"  You  may.  I  do  not  think  he  ever  sees 
anything  beyond  his  own  shadow.  It  is  really 
a  lovely  dress;  it  looks  quite  Parisian." 

"  It  is  Parisian.  Mrs.  Bond  bought  it  for 
me  on  the  Rue  Rivoli,  and  I  have  all  the 
proper  accessories,  even  to  the  complexion  of 
my  shoe-strings." 

Then  they  drifted  into  a  conversation  which, 
however  far  it  diverged,  came  back  constantly 
to  the  "  Arethusa "  and  Nigel  Forfar.  Jane 
was  much  more  interested  on  the  latter  subject 
than  she  would  permit  either  Virginia  or  her 
self  to  believe ;  for  she  was  a  lonely  girl,  cut 
off  by  her  father's  ideas  and  economies  from 
many  of  the  social  pleasures  that  were  part  of 
every-day  life  to  her  friend. 

"  And   I  am  twenty-two,  Virginia,"  she  said 


JANE  KETELTAS.  27 

plaintively,  "  and  have  never  had  an  offer  of 
marriage.  I  should  like  to  have  one,  even  if  I 
felt  it  right  to  refuse  it."  She  was  dressing 
her  fair  hair  in  a  lofty  coronal  on  the  top  of 
her  head  as  she  spoke,  and  she  could  not  help 
displaying  its  thick,  rippling  lengths,  glossy 
and  shining  and  fuli  of  vitality. 

At  the  dinner-table  the  unusual  splendor  of 
her  dress  caused  no  remark.  Keteltas  under 
stood  far  too  well  the  times  when  speech  or 
silence  would  be  the  golden  rule  ;  and  he  felt 
that  if  he  twitted  Jane  about  their  expected 
visitor,  she  might  make  the  visitor  suffer  for  it, 
the  tendency  of  human  nature  being  to  pass 
onward  any  snub  it  receives. 

The  afternoon,  in  spite  of  all  there  was  to 
tell  and  to  speculate  about,  was  a  trifle  ex 
hausting.  The  sense  of  "  watching"  took  the 
sparkle  out  of  conversation.  Virginia  also  had 
a  thought  she  could  not  share.  The  love 
which  Marius  Bradford  had  scarcely  dared  to 
breathe  she  could  not  gossip  about  without  a 
sense  of  profanation.  She  had  not  even  talked 
of  it  with  her  own  heart.  It  was,  so  far,  a 
sacred  mystery,  divined  but  not  interpreted — 
a  new-born  emotion,  which  had  not  yet  found 
its  speech. 

Toward  the  close  of  her  visit  she  suddenly 
remembered  her  friend's  brother. 

"  I  have  not  asked  after  Harry.  Where  is 
he  now  ?  " 


28  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

"  At  New  Brunswick,  in  the  theological 
school.  Father  says  he  must  be  a  minister. 
They  are  simply  trying  to  turn  an  eagle  into 
an  owl.  Harry  ought  to  have  gone  to  West 
Point.  Poor  Harry !  I  feel  very  foolish, 
Virginia,  in  my  silk  and  lace;  wait  until  I  take 
them  off,  and  I  will  walk  part  of  the  way  home 
with  you." 

"  No,  no  !  You  must  not  have  a  disappoint 
ment  in  your  pretty  dress.  If  you  take  it  off, 
Nigel  Forfar  is  sure  to  come  while  you  are 
looking  your  very  worst.  Some  malicious 
sprite  whispered  that  in  your  ear.  Wear  your 
dress  till  you  get  your  desire,  for  if  you  begin 
giving  way  to  things  you  never  know  where 
you  may  be  carried.  Upon  my  word,  Jane, 
you  are  a  very  pretty  girl ;  but  I  really  hope 
Captain  Forfar  may  not  be  of  my  mind." 

She  kissed  Jane  with  these  words,  and  left  her 
standing  under  the  porch.  Her  shoulders  and 
arms  were  covered  only  with  lace,  and  she 
gave  a  visible  shiver  as  she  turned  in  with  a 
farewell  gesture.  Virginia  had  a  sympathetic 
chill,  and  she  hurried  her  steps  a  little,  being 
conscious  of  approaching  change,  and  having  a 
natural  instinct  of  home  in  its  first  uncer 
tainty. 

Major  Mason  was  already  there.  He  was 
dressed  for  dinner,  and  had  a  copy  of  the  New 
York  "Mirror"  in  his  hand.  But  he  was 


JANE   KETELTAS.  29 

discussing  with  the  butler  the  quantity  of  wine 
in  the  cellar,  and  the  subject  was  too  interest 
ing  to  be  suddenly  dropped.  She  allowed  him 
to  thoroughly  talk  it  out,  and  then  said: 

"Captain  Forfar,  whom  we  met  on  the 
'  Arethusa/  is  to  visit  Mr.  Keteltas." 

"  I  should  not  have  thought  it." 

"  Jane  says  her  father  and  his  father  were 
playfellows  and  friends  ;  and  that  she  believes 
there  is  an  intention  of  marriage  in  the  gen 
tleman's  mind  if  she  fills  his  ideal." 

"  I  hope  he  will  find  her  wanting.  I  think 
Jane  deserves  a  better  husband.  I  under 
stood  he  was  from  Tennessee.  Why  does  he 
come  to  New  York  by  way  of  England  ?" 

"  He  went  from  New  Orleans  to  Europe,  and 
has  been  there  on  a  pleasure  trip.  T  suppose 
Jane  is  business,  and  he  comes  home  by  New 
York  to  arrange  his  marriage." 

"  I  am  astonished  at  Keteltas,  and  yet  not 
so.  Keteltas  has  a  strong  vein  of  romance 
running  through  his  practical  nature.  I  think 
if  he  loved  the  father  he  is  capable  of  continu 
ing  his  love  to  the  third  or  fourth  generation. 
Ho\v  does  Jane  take  to  the  arrangement?" 

"  She  likes  it.  Jane  is  romantic,  and  her 
life  has  been  very  quiet.  She  is  in  love  with 
the  ideal  man,  I  can  see  that.  All  the  good 
qualities  Forfar  lacks  she  will  invent  for  him  ; 
».j.  his  bad  ones  she  will  ignore.  Jane  told  me 
that  Colonel  Burr  was  married  to  Madame 


3°  SHE   LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

Jumel  last  July  ;  and  Miss  Douglas  is  married 
also  ;  Henry  Inman  is  painting  a  fine  picture 
of  her.  Jane  was  at  Long  Branch  a  short 
time  this  summer,  and  she  says  it  is  becoming 
a  fashionable  resort.  What  have  you  seen 
to-day,  father  ?  " 

"  The  sunniest,  breeziest,  liveliest  city  under 
the  sun.  I  have  been  down  to  the  Battery,  and 
across  to  Hanover  Square.  Nothing  except  an 
Italian  sky  could  have  been  bluer  than  the 
sky  above  New  York  to-day ;  and  the  bright 
red  of  the  brick  houses,  and  the  golden  green 
of  the  trees,  and  all  the  stir  and  color  of  the 
Broadway  crowd,  was  enchanting." 

"  I  wish  I  had  been  with  you,  father." 

"  I  stood  on  the  Battery  some  time,  and 
looked  at  the  slanting  sails  of  the  great  packets 
on  the  horizon,  and  the  red  and  black  smoke 
stacks  of  the  crafts  puffing  and  paddling  about 
the  river,  and  the  great  ferryboats  toiling  be 
tween  shores.  Everything,  everywhere,  was 
moving — moving  fast.  Even  the  man  calling 
'  ice-cream  '  was  out  of  sight  before  I  could  get 
the  twopenny  piece  I  wanted  to  give  him  for 
the  sake  of  the  familiar  cry." 

"  Yet  Jane  says  more  than  three  thousand 
people  died  from  cholera  last  summer.  I  dare 
say  they  were  not  missed  in  the  crowd." 

"To  the  sight  they  are  not,  but  the  heart 
picks  out  the  empty  places.  In  many  stores  I 
found  vacancies  that  represent  broken  homes. 


JANE   KETELTAS.  31 

and  losses  never  to  be  repaired.  We  left  New 
York  just  in  time  to  escape  the  epidemic  and 
the  presidential  election." 

"  Are  there  many  changes  on  Broadway  ?  " 

"  Some  new  buildings,  and  I  am  told  that  Mr. 
Astor  is  going  to  pull  down  all  the  houses  be 
tween  Barclay  and  Vesey  Streets,  and  build  a 
grand  hotel  there.  It  is  to  eost  him  six  hun 
dred  thousand  dollars." 

"Will  it  pay?" 

"If  he  makes  it  splendid  enough.  Really, 
Virginia,  New  York  is  fonder  of  display  tharv 
any  Old  World  city  we  have  visited." 

"  New  York  has  plenty  of  money ;  she  is- 
open-handed,  and  likes  to  spend  it.  Were 
there  many  ladies  out?" 

"  The  lower  part  of  Broadway  was  crowded 
with  open  carriages  full  of  ladies  shopping. 
And  how  pretty  our  women  are  !  Under 
their  large  gay  bonnets  and  bright-colored 
parasols  their  delicate  faces  looked  like 
flowers.  I  stood  at  the  Park  awhile  and 
watched  them  passing ;  it  was  easy  to  recog 
nize  those  I  knew,  for  the  carriages  were  con 
stantly  getting  tangled  up  with  the  hurrying 
carts  and  drays,  and  the  omnibuses  racing  and 
rolling  up  and  down  the  crowded  thoroughfare." 

"Oh,  the  omnibuses!  Are  they  still  run 
ning  ?  " 

"  They  have  been  redecorated.  The 'Lady 
Washington  '  and  the  '  Lady  Jackson'  outvie 


32  SHK   LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

each  other  in  pictured  beauty  in  scarlet  and 
yellow  and  apple-green.  And  the  arrogance 
of  their  drivers  is  something  wonderful.  They 
think  the  street  belongs  to  them.  If  we  have 
an  autocrat  in  America,  the  omnibus  driver  is 
the  man." 

"  You  forget  King  Andrew  Jackson  !  " 

"  The  cases  are  not  comparable.  As  for 
Jackson  being  an  autocrat,  we  had  better  have 
one  autocrat,  than  half  a  dozen.  What  could 
the  country  do  with  Clay,  Webster,  Calhoun, 
Benton,  and  Nicholas  Biddle  ?  We  ought  to 
be  grateful  that  we  have  one  man  stronger 
than  all  of  them,  and  able  to  keep  them  in 
order." 

"Can  Jackson  do  that?" 

"  He  can  do  it.  There  is  no  living  man 
whose  '  yea '  can  stand  against  Jackson's  '  nay.' 
But  when  he  comes  to  fighting  ideas  instead 
•of  men,  that  is  a  different  thing.  I  met  Mr. 
Jonas  Hale  in  the  Park,  and  went  with  him  to 
Tappan's  store  to  buy  some  silk.  There  is  an 
*  idea '  brooding  in  that  man's  mind  that  no 
one  will  ever  put  down.  It  will  carry  all  be 
fore  it." 

"What  do  you  mean,  father?" 

"  Liberty.     Emancipation." 

"Abolition?" 

"  Yes.  The  Tappans  are  possessed  by  it. 
They  are  the  little  leaven  hid  in  the  measure 
of  meal.  You  can't  buy  a  yard  of  silk  without 


IANE  KETELTAS.  33 

feeling  it.  Arthur  Tappan's  face  was  fairly 
illumined  when  he  spoke  of  the  recent  emanci 
pation  of  the  English  slaves  in  the  West 
Indies.  It  was  an  irritating  text  to  preach 
from.  We  do  not  want  England  to  set  us 
examples.  I  quite  lost  my  temper  on  the 
subject.  The  opera  is  a  pleasanter  one.  The 
new  house  is  to  be  opened  in  November,  and 
I  have  bought  one-third  of  a  box  for  this 
winter.  Fanti  is  the  prima  donna." 

He  rose  with  these  words,  and  lifted  a  maga 
zine. 

"  It  is  a  new  American  venture,"  he  "aid 
critically,  reading  aloud  the  contents. 

"What  is  it  called  ?" 

"  The  '  Knickerbocker.'  I  think  I  shall 
adhere  to  my  '  Mirror.'  The  '  Knicker 
bocker'  promises  too  much.  Do  you  wish  to 
go  out  this  evening,  Virginia  ?  " 

"  No,  sir.     I  am  very  weary." 

"  Then  I  shall  take  a  quiet  hour  or  two  with 
my  books.  I  have  also  a  fresh  installment  of 
4  Pickwick  Papers.'  ' 

"  And  you  prefer  Mr.  Pickwick  to  me, 
father  ?  " 

"  Mr.  Pickwick  is  my  guest,  Virginia. 
Thank  God,  I  have  you  always  with  me !  " 

The  apology  sent  a  flash  of  loving  intelli 
gence  between  them,  and  Virginia  was  not 
sorry  to  be  dismissed  early.  Even  at  twenty- 
two  there  are  hours  when  the  head  aches  and 


34  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

the  heart  longs  for  solitude.  The  whole  day 
had  been  given  to  the  hopes  of  others.  She 
now  shut  herself  in  her  room,  and  dropped 
with  a  happy  abandon  upon  a  couch,  whose 
soft  and  ample  width  said  to  her:  "  Come  here 
and  rest."  In  a  tew  minutes  her  tired  body 
was  asleep,  and  her  diviner  part,  giad  to  es 
cape  fleshly  orders,  was  away  to  the  "  Are- 
thusa." 

At  that  moment  Marius  Bradford  was  sitting 
in  the  cabin  of  his  ship,  and  a  glove  which 
Virginia  had  lost  lay  across  his  palm.  His 
eyes  regarded  it  with  tender  respect ;  his  lips 
moved  ;  he  bent  his  head  and  kissed  it.  Hope 
filled  his  heart.  He  lifted  up  his  handsome 
face  and  let  his  eyes  rest  with  an  unwinking 
gaze  upon  the  seat  she  had  always  occupied 
while  on  the  "  Arethusa."  He  was  sure  he 
saw  her  there  ;  he  was  sure  she  called  his  name. 
He  stood  listening  with  all  his  soul,  and  the 
boatswain  struck  the  ship*  s  bell  and  called 
cheerily  into  the  midnight : 

"All's  well !" 

And,  as  if  the  sound  awakened  her,  Virginia 
moved  and  opened  her  eyes.  There  had  been 
a  little  shock,  a  trembling  of  the  fleshly  tunicle, 
a  vague  solemnity  which  she  did  not  under 
stand.  She  rose  and  looked  into  the  moonlit 
room. 

"  I  have  been  dreaming,"  she  whispered. 
"  Marius,  I  have  been  dreaming  of  you — dream- 


JANE  KETELTAS.  35 

ing  that  I  loved  you  !  "  She  stood  quite  still  a 
few  moments,  and  the  white  light  touched  her 
with  a  soft,  mystical  radiance.  "  Marius ! 
Marius !  " 

And  there  was  no  need  of  further  speech 
with  herself.  At  that  moment  she  knew  that 
she  loved  him. 


CHAPTER  III. 

NELLY     HAWORTH. 

"One  master  passion  in  the  breast, 

Like  Aaron's  serpent  swallows  up  the  rest." 

"  Beautiful  as  sweet, 

And  young  as  beautiful,  and  soft  as  young, 
And  gay  as  soft,  and  innocent  as  gay." 

IN  the  cabin  of  the  "  Arethusa "  Captain 
Bradford  sat  with  a  thoughtful  but  not  de 
spondent  face.  He  had  eaten  his  breakfast,  the 
steward  was  removing  the  service,  and  above 
his  head  there  was  the  necessary  tumult  of 
putting  in  the  cargo.  Through  the  open  ports 
a  fresh  breeze  was  blowing,  and  he  turned  his 
hot  face  to  it,  feeling  the  breath  of  the  sea  in 
its  cool  saltness  like  an  invitation  to  come  to 
its  deep,  cradling  billows. 

He  was  thinking  of  Virginia.  He  had  been 
vowing  to  himself  to  win  her,  as  a  brave,  honest 
man  should  win  a  woman's  love,  without  fear 
and  without  deception.  The  very  memory,  of 
her  beauty  cast  a  light  upon  his  face,  the 
echoes  of  her  voice  were  sweetly  distinct 
through  all  the  clamor  of  the  deck  noises  and 
the  dumb  tumult  of  his  own  heart. 

Suddenly  he  heard  the  tones  of  a  woman's 
36 


NELLY  HA  WORTH.  37 

voice.  It  broke  the  happy,  spellbound  mood 
in  which  he  had  been  dreaming.  "  That  is 
Nelly  Haworth,"  he  muttered  ;  "  and  I  shall 
have  to  give  her  a  disappointment."  A 
shadow  passed  over  his  face,  and  he  turned  in 
his  chair  and  looked  toward  the  door  of  the 
salon.  A  'very  handsome  girl  was  standing 
there.  She  had  a  look  of  anxious  inquiry,  and 
she  carried  a  small  parcel  in  her  hand. 

"  It's  Nelly  Haworth,  Captain  ;  if  ta  likes  to 
see  her." 

"Come  in,  Nelly.  How  do  you  do?  Sit 
down." 

"  I'm  middling  comfortable,  Captain.  Hes  ta 
any  good  news  for  me?  " 

"  I  have  not,  Nelly.  No  man  called  John 
Thomas  Clitheroe  is  on  board  the  '  Water 
Witch.'  I  saw  her  mate,  and  I  asked  him  the 
question." 

"It's  a  varry  queer  thing,  Captain.  John 
Thomas  told  me  the  '  Water  Witch.'  Mebbe, 
now,  there  may  be  another  ship  called  the 
*  Water  Witch.'  " 

"  I  should  not  wonder,  Nelly.  I  never 
thought  of  that.  When  I  go  back  to  Liver 
pool,  I  will  find  out  how  many  '  Water 
Witches  '  there  are.  You  say  John  Thomas  is 
a  ship-carpenter  ?  " 

"  To  be  sure  ;  a  first-rate  hand.  And  when 
ta  sees  a  man,  Captain,  as  is  a  good  carpenter, 
ta  sees  one  that  is  able  to  do  lots  of  other  things 


3&  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

better  than  most  men  can.  Carpentering  is  a 
trade  as  taxes  a  man's  brains,  Captain." 

"No  doubt,  Nelly.  I  will  take  your  letter 
back  with  me,  and  if  John  Thomas  Clitheroe 
is  on  any  '  Water  Witch,'  I  will  leave  it  with 
her  owners  to  be  forwarded  to  him.  Where 
are  you  living  now  ?  " 

"  A  goodish  way  from  here — with  an  old 
man  and  his  daughter.  They're  varry  kind 
to  me." 

"  Well,  Nelly,  I  shall  try  once  more  to  find 
your  lover.  And  I  am  glad  you  are  doing  so 
well." 

His  voice  and  attitude  evidently  dismissed 

the  girl,  and  she  was  quick  to  feel  it.    Both  her 

iface  and  voice  expressed  a  little  anger  and  a 

little  reproach.    "  I'm  not  going  to  bother  thee, 

Captain,  any  longer,"  she  said. 

"  I  do  not  feel  you  to  be  a  bother,  Nelly. 
Have  I  not  always  been  kind  to  you  ?  " 

"Thou  hes  that,  Captain.  I  wer  a  desolate 
lass,  cold  and  sick  and  hungry,  when  thou 
found  me  out  on  thy  ship.  Thou  came  across 
my  road  as  if  God  sent  thee." 

l<  That  is  two  years  ago,  Nelly.  Now  you 
have  a  home  and  friends,  and  are  doing  well. 
If  I  find  any  trace  of  John  Thomas,  I  will  send 
a  man  to  tell  you,  because,  Nelly — I  think  you 
ought  not  to  come  to  the  '  Arethusa.' ' 

"  If  ta  doesn't  want  me  to  come,  thou  is 
right  to  say  so.  I  hev  been  knitting  thee 


NELLY  HA  WORTH.  39 

some  gloves  and  hose  for  winter.  There  they 
are,  and  a  good-day  to  thee."  She  rose 
proudly  with  the  words,  and  pushed  her  little 
present  out  of  her  reach. 

"  Nelly,  stop.     You  do  not  understand  me." 

"  Well  enough,  Captain.  There's  some 
things  women  know  by  nature.  Thou  is  too 
soft  to  tell  me  thy  mind,  but  ta  thinks  I  hev 
been  a  bit  free.  I  wouldn't  wonder  if  I  hev, 
to  thy  notion.  New  countries,  new  manners ; 
but  I  meant  nothing  that  a  good  lass  might 
not  mean." 

"  I  am  sure  of  that,  Nelly.  And  if  I  find 
John  Thomas  I  will  give  him  a  berth  on  the 
'Arethusa.'  Now  good-morning." 

"  Will  ta  keep  the  bits  of  things  I  knit  for 
thee?" 

"  Glad  to  keep  them,  Nelly,  and  I  will  wear 
them  also.  I  am  very  much  obliged  to  you, 
Nelly."  He  rose  with  the  words,  and  Nelly, 
dropping  a  courtesy,  went  slowly  up  the  com 
panion-way.  There  was  an  expression  of 
wounded  feeling  and  disappointment  in  her 
face,  which  pained  and  annoyed  the  Captain. 
He  had  been  kind  to  the  girl  when  she  was  in 
great  distress,  and  her  gratitude,  at  first  very 
pleasant,  had  finally  become  a  trifle  embarrass 
ing.  He  forgot  that  while  he  had  many  in 
terests,  poor  Nelly  was  alone  and  friendless  in 
a  strange  country. 

She  had  also  lost  track  of  her  lover,    and 


4°  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

Captain  Bradford  had  offered  to  try  and  find 
him,  so  that  whatever  of  sentiment  or  romance 
there  was  in  Nelly's  heart  went  out  voluntarily 
to  one  who  had  been  her  friend  when  she  had 
no  other  friend.  Her  Yorkshire  nature  and 
training  had  also  led  her  innocently  into  a 
questionable  position.  She  had  never  been 
taught  to  think  evil,  or  to  suspect  evil,  where 
no  actual  evil  was  apparent.  But  she  had  the 
quick  instinct  of  modesty,  and  she  instantly 
divined  why  Captain  Bradford  did  not  wish 
her  to  come  to  the  "Arethusa."  His  motive 
was  kind  and  right,  and  she  acknowledged  it ; 
but  still  kind  and  right  motives  may,  and  do 
very  often,  give  a  great  deal  of  pain. 

As  she  disappeared,  Captain  Bradford  went 
to  the  deck  as  if  in  a  sudden  hurry.  He  had 
also  an  air  of  annoyance,  and  he  put  his  hand 
among  his  close  brown  curls  and  rumpled  them 
impatiently.  Hitherto  the  visits  of  Nelly 
Haworth  had  not  worried  him  in  any  respect. 
But  he  had  met  Virginia  Mason,  and  many 
things,  once  indifferent,  had  assumed  import 
ance.  She  had  looked  into  his  heart  and  puri 
fied  it ;  and  his  love  for  her  had  exalted  his 
ideal  of  womanhood,  and  of  the  respect  which 
was  its  due. 

After  Nelly  went,  the  day  was  long  and 
hard.  He  had  no  cause  to  reproach  himself 
about  the  girl,  and  yet  her  indignant,  sorrow 
ful  face  haunted  him  wherever  he  turned.  It 


NELLY  HA  WORTH.  4» 

was  not  long  before  he  resented  this  obstinate 
intrusion,  and  this  resentment  was  felt  from 
the  stern  to  the  bo\v  of  the  "Arethusa."  The 
men  who  had  begun  the  day  singing  and  joking 
were  not  able  to  continue  it  in  the  presence  of 
his  silent  attention  to  the  business  going  on  ; 
and  the  sailors  obeyed  his  decisive  orders  with 
a  prompt,  attent  obedience,  which,  had  Vir 
ginia  been  present,  would  have  instantly  re 
called  to  her  the  comparison  between  the  Cap 
tain  and  the  Roman  centurion  which  John 
Paul  Keteltas  had  pleased  himself  with  making. 
"  If  the  sun  would  only  set !  "  he  muttered, 
"  I  would  go  and  see  Jack.  He  says  seven 
o'clock,  I  think  "  ;  and  he  took  a  slip  of  paper 
from  his  pocket  and  re-read  it : 

Dear  Marius  :  Come  at  seven.  I  am  longing  to  see  you. 
1  have  been  to  Philadelphia  for  the  firm,  and  have  just  heard 
of  your  arrival.  Same  place.  JOHN  RHEA. 

The  same  place  was  a  respectable  house  in 
Rose  Street,  where  the  writer  of  the  letter 
lived.  John  Rhea  and  Marius  Bradford  had 
had  the  same  mother,  and  a  long  tie  of 
dependence  and  protection  had  made  them 
more  than  brothers.  John  was  ten  years 
younger  than  Marius,  and  he  owed  to  his  elder 
brother  his  education  and  the  fine  prospects 
with  which  he  was  beginning  life.  And  he 
loved  him  truly  ;  not  only  with  that  affection 
which  a  younger  boy  gives  to  his  big  brother, 
but  also  with  that  admiring  respect  which  is 


42  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

more  like  that  given  to  a  father.  To  John 
Rhea,  his  brother  Marius  was  the  visible  pre 
sentment  of  all  that  was  lovable  and  heroic  ; 
to  Marius  Bradford,  his  brother  John  was  the 
best-hearted,  the  cleverest,  and  the  handsomest 
young  fellow  in  the  world. 

They  met  with  an  almost  womanly  embrace. 
John  kissed  his  brother's  brown  cheeks,  and 
held  both  his  hands  in  his  own  like  two  child 
ren  playing.  "Marius!  Marius!  Ycu  are  the 
blessedest  sight  I  have  seen  since  you  sailed 
into  last  July's  fog,  and  looked  as  big  and 
vapory  as  an  Arabian  genie.  Let  us  have  a 
pipe,  Marius.  I  have  learned  to  smoke  since 
you  were  here." 

"  You  might  have  learned  something  bet 
ter — and  perhaps  something  worse.  Say, 
Jack,  how  like  mother  you  do  grow  !  " 

They  were  filling  their  pipes  to  the  words,. 
and  they  looked  at  each  other  for  answer. 
Then  they  pulled  them  into  good  condition, 
and  hitched  their  chairs  closer. 

"  You  seem  to  enjoy  smoking,  youngster  !  " 

"Who  doesn't?  It  helps  me  every  way. 
My  brain  grows  clear  and  my  heart  calm.  I 
wrote  a  song  to  my  pipe  last  night,  Marius — 
not  a  bad  one,  either." 

"  Poetry  and  law — that  won't  do,  Jack. 
Let's  heai  the  jingle,  though.  There  never 
was  a  poet  in  our  house,  nor  among  our  kin 
that  I  know  of." 


NELLY  HA  WORTH.  43 

Then  Jack  made  a  merry  recitative  to  his 
pipe,  and  Marius,  with  a  pleased  face,  listened 
to  his  homely  laud  : 

MY   LITTLE   BROWN   PIPE. 
I  have  a  little  comforter 

I  carry  in  my  pocket. 
It  is  not  any  woman's  face 

Set  in  a  golden  locket  ; 
It  is  not  any  kind  of  purse  ; 

It  is  not  book  or  letter  ; 
But  yet  at  times  I  really  think 

That  it  is  something  better. 

Oh,  my  pipe,  my  little  brown  pipe  ! 

How  oft  at  morning  early, 
When  vexed  with  thoughts  of  coming  toil. 

And  just  a  little  surly, 
I  sit  with  thee  till  things  get  clear 

And  all  my  plans  grow  steady, 
And  I  can  face  the  strife  of  life 

With  all  my  senses  ready  ! 

No  matter  if  my  temper  stands 

At  stormy,  fair,  or  clearing, 
My  pipe  has  not  for  any  mood 

A  word  of  angry  sneering. 
I  always  find  it  just  the  same 

In  care  or  joy  or  sorrow, 
And  what  it  is  to-day  I  know 

It's  sure  to  be  to-morrow. 

It  helps  me  through  the  stress  of  life, 

It  balances  my  losses, 
It  adds  a  charm  to  all  my  joys. 

And  lightens  all  my  crosses. 
For  through  its  wreathing,  misty  veil 

Joy  has  a  softer  splendor, 
And  life  grows  sweetly  possible, 

And  love  more  truly  tender. 


44  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

Oh,  I  have  many  richer  joys  ! 

I  do  not  underrate  them. 
And  every  man  knows  what  I  mean— 

I  do  not  need  to  state  them. 
But  this  I  say — I'd  rather  miss 

A  deal  of  what's  called  pleasure, 
Than  lose  my  little  comforter, 

My  little  smoky  treasure. 

"You  have  not  put  it  badly,  Jack,  and  what 
you  say  is  true  enough — from  your  point  of 
view.  How  like  mother  you  do  grow  !  When 
did  you  hear  from  home,  Jack?" 

"  Last  week.  Everything  goes  on  the  same 
there.  Father  is  no  better.  He  will  never  go 
to  sea  again." 

"  Poor  fellow  !  Never  go  to  sea  again  !  It 
is  as  though  the  Almighty  said  to  him,  '  Im 
prisonment  for  life,  Abel  Rhea.'  You  sent 
him  the  money,  and  the  tobacco,  and  the 
bottles?" 

"  The  day  you  left.  Abigail  Wood  takes  care 
of  him  and  the  cottage.  But  if  ever  I  have  a 
house  of  my  own,  the  dear  old  man  shall  have 
a  share  in  it." 

"  That  is  right,  Jack ;  only,  you  might 
marry  a  girl  who  is  a  bit  above  him,  and  she 
wouldn't  like  it." 

"  Then  she  would  be  a  bit  above  me,  and  so 
the  question  would  not  come  to  issue." 

"  It  is  a  blessed  thing  to  be  young,  Jack, 
and  to  have  such  enthusiasms  ;  as  you  grow 
older " 


NELL  Y  HA  WOR  TH.  45 

"  I  hope  they  will  grow  stronger." 

"  You  have  never  been  in  love,  Jack?  " 

"  Never,  that  I  know  of." 

Marius  laughed — a  somber  kind  of  laugh — 
and  answered,  "  If  you  had  ever  felt  love  you 
would  know  it." 

"  It  isn't  likely  that  you  are — that  way  ?  " 

"  Well,  it  is.  A  young  lady  came  over  with 
me  this  voyage,  and  I  tell  you,  Jack,  if  I  can 
not  get  her  for  my  wife,  I  do  not  care  much 
how  soon  I  go  to  the  bottom." 

"  Father  and  I  being  of  no  account  at  all.  I 
dare  say  she  isn't  worthy  of  you.  First-rate 
men  generally  fall  in  love  with  a  poor  kind  of  a 
woman." 

"  You  must  not  speak  of  her  in  that  fashion, 
Jack.  I  do  not  like  it.  She  has  not  a  fault, 
that  I  can  see." 

"  Pretty?" 

"  Pretty  as  a  rose — the  fairest  rose  that  ever 
grew  is  nowhere  near  her.  She  is  altogether 
sweet  and  good.  Have  you  passed  your  ex 
amination  yet  ?  " 

"  Yes,  and  a  very  good  one,  too.  C.  and  C. 
wish  me  to  remain  with  them.  They  offer  me 
seven  hundred  dollars  for  the  first  year." 

"  Take  it.  You  can  live  very  well  on  seven 
hundred  dollars  a  year.  Stay  with  a  good  firm, 
and  you  will  be  counted  one  of  them.  And  if 
you  fall  short  in  money  matters  we  have  one 
purse,  have  we  not,  Jack?  " 


46  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

"  No  one  ever  had  a  better  brother  than  I 
have,  Marius." 

"  No  two  boys  ever  had  a  better  mother. 
She  tied  the  knot  between  us.  As  for  your 
father,  Jack,  he  is  like  my  own — a  dear  old 
man  !  Next  summer  we  will  go  and  see  him." 

"  Our  duty  and  pleasure  both,  Marius.  His 
rheumatism  is  very  bad  ;  but  Abigail  says  he 
is  quite  happy  because  he  has  still  the  use 
of  his  hands.  He  sits  by  the  fire  or  in  the 
sunshine  singing  and  making  nets.  Marius  ! 
Marius  !  I  thank  you  for  this  large  life.  But 
for  you  I  should  have  been  away  with  the 
whaleships." 

Now,  gratitude  is  the  sweetest  of  heart 
flowers  ;  so  sweet  that  its  perfume  nearly  al 
ways  draws  forth  a  rain  of  happy  tears. 
Jack's  words,  solemn  and  tender,  lifted  both 
into  a  higher  atmosphere.  They  talked  of 
their  dead  mother,  her  heroic  struggles  and 
hard  life  ;  of  their  father,  and  his  pluck,  and 
constant  labor,  and  empty  old  age.  And  the 
fret  of  the  day  fell  off  from  the  weary-hearted 
Captain,  in  the  realization  that  there  is  some 
thing  grander  in  life  than  life  can  give  or 
death  can  take  away. 

They  spoke  little  after  this,  until  their  pipes 
were  out ;  then  the  room,  small  and  warm  and 
full  of  smoke,  oppressed  the  man  used  to 
chestfuls  of  rustling  salt  air,  and  he  went  to 
the  window  and  flung  it  open.  His  brother 


NELL  Y  HA  WORTH.  47 

followed,  and  made  him  observe  a  brick  house 
opposite. 

"  That  is  where  the  Tappan  brothers  live, 
and  that  is  Arthur  Tappan  at  the  door  looking 
at  his  roses." 

"  Tappan  ?  " 

"  The  abolitionist.  For  that  kindly-looking 
gentleman  the  State  of  Georgia  or  of  South 
Carolina  would  give  ten  thousand  dollars. 
Either  State  would  hang  him  with  the  great 
est  pleasure." 

"  If  I  were  a  slave  owner  I  might  feel  that 
way  also.  No  man  and  no  State  likes  to  have 
their  domestic  arrangements  meddled  with  by 
outsiders.  If  Tappan  feels  so  badly  about  the 
negroes,  there  are  any  number  up  North  starv 
ing  and  ignorant  and  going  to  the  dev " 

"But  free,  Marius — free!  England  has  just 
set  us  an  example  by  emancipating  her  slaves 
in  the  West  Indies." 

"  England  be I  beg  your  pardon,  Jack  ; 

I  leave  England  to  the  Almighty.  But  if 
England  is  going  to  preach  to  us,  and  wash 
her  hands  in  our  face,  I  for  one  will  not  listen 
to  her.  I  guess  we  can  manage  our  own 
affairs.  Who  are  these  Tappans  ?  " 

"  Wealthy  silk  merchants.  The  trouble  has. 
been  brewing  a  long  time.  You  remember  the 
rising  of  slaves  under  Nat  Turner  in  Virginia 
about  three  years  ago  ?  " 

"  I  remember  the  negroes  killed  more  than 


48  SA-*'   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 


sixty  white  women  and  little  children.  When 
I  heard  that  news,  Jack,  I  was  not  much  of  an 
abolitionist." 

"The  negroes  must  have  had  an  excuse  for 
the  deed." 

"  Don't  talk  to  me  that  way,  Jack,  or  you 
and  I  will  quarrel.  Nothing  but  brutes  kill 
women  and  children." 

"The  'Richmond  Whig'  said  that  another 
uprising  would  deliver  all  blacks  to  the  sword. 
I  suppose  that  meant  black  women  and  chil 
dren." 

"  You  have  no  precedent  to  suppose  any 
thing  of  the  kind.  The  blacks  were  in  no 
danger.  Men  love  their  property  too  well  to 
destroy  it.  Every  planter  would  have  found 
an  excuse  for  his  own  slaves." 

"  The  negro  preachers  make  a  deal  of  trou 
ble  ;  they  sow  the  seed  the  white  abolitionist 
gives  them.  Brodnax,  in  the  Virginia  Legis 
lature,  cried  out  '  that  life  was  a  burden  to 
the  Southern  planter  ;  that  he  was  forced 
to  lock  his  doors  at  night,  and  open  them 
in  the  morning  with  a  loaded  pistol  in  his 
hand.'  " 

"  I  am  sorry  for  the  Southern  planter,  but  I 
guess  there  is  enough  law  in  the  land  to  re 
move  any  evil.  No  need  to  take  either  the 
sword  or  the  pistol." 

"  Marius,  do  you  think  slavery  right  —  or 
wrong  ?  " 


NELLY  HA  WORTH.  49 

"  I  do  not  say  the  principle  is  right." 

"  Then  if  it  is  wrong,  it  cannot  exist  a  mo 
ment  without  sin.  It  ought  to  be  abandoned 
without  regard  to  consequences.  It  is  not  a 
political  problem,  it  is  a  personal  crime." 

"  If  you  want  to  know  anything,  address 
yourself  to  a  young  man — they  can  decide  all 
questions  !  "  Marius  spoke  with  some  warmth, 
but  the  face  of  his  brother,  glowing  with  enthu 
siasm,  silenced  him.  He  reflected  instantly 
that  during  our  youth  there  is  something  in  us 
better  than  ourselves.  It  was  easy  to  kill  a 
noble  impulse,  but  in  so  doing  he  partially 
killed  the  man.  He  was  silent  a  moment,  and 
then  said  confidently  : 

"Jack,  if  abolition  is  right,  it  is  of  God,  and 
nothing  on  earth  will  stop  it.  You  and  I  can 
leave  it  in  his  hands.  We  have  a  foreign  ele 
ment  here,  who  are  ready  for  anything  that 
promises  a  chance  for  plunder  or  riot." 

"  I  should  say  so.  In  Boston  and  Phila 
delphia  there  has  been  hard  work  to  keep  it 
down,  and  a  small  thing  sways  a  city  anyway. 
At  present  the  worst  elements  of  New  York 
are  fully  occupied  with  boat  racing.  The  river 
steamers  are  running  each  other  down  for  fifty 
cents — that  is  the  fare  to  Albany,  and  the  race 
lasts  all  the  way.  You  may  judge  what  kind 
of  passengers  they  carry.  Those  who  want  to 
stop  at  any  intermediate  place  are  in  real 
danger;  the  boats  barely  slow  up,  and  they 


SO  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

and  their  baggage  are  flung  out,  with  one 
chance  of  reaching  land  and  nine  chances  of 
staying  in  the  water." 

"  Why  do  New  Yorkers  tolerate  such  imposi 
tion  of  private  interests  on  public  welfare  ?  " 

"  New  Yorkers  dearly  love  a  race — horse 
race,  boat  race,  money  race,  any  kind  of  race. 
You  should  see  them  on  the  Union  track, 
especially  if  it  is  a  Southern  mare  against  a 
Northern  one !  I  have  read  of  the  English 
Derby,  and  I  suppose  we  get  our  hippie  and 
nautical  inspiration  that  way." 

They  talked  thus  upon  a  variety  of  public 
and  private  subjects,  the  one  constantly  drift 
ing  into  the  other,  until  about  nine  o'clock. 
Then  Marius  had  a  sudden  longing  for  motion, 
and  he  bid  his  brother  good-night.  The  streets 
were  flooded  with  moonlight,  and  very  quiet 
in  that  part  of  the  town.  He  thought  a 
moment  of  his  anchored  ship,  and  she  seemed 
like  a  prison  to  him ;  so  he  turned  toward 
Broadway  and  began  to  walk  northward. 

The  beautiful  dwelling-houses  on  each  side 
of  the  splendid  thoroughfare  were  still  open, 
and  in  many  of  them  there  were  signs  of  fes 
tivity.  The  blaze  of  candles  threw  a  glow  upon 
the  pavement,  and  the  moonlight  sifted  through 
the  shade  trees,  and  mingled  with  it.  Through 
open  windows  the  murmur  of  conversation  and 
the  echoes  of  music  and  song  floated.  Broad 
way  was  the  favorite  promenade,  and  it  was  by 


NELL  Y  JIA  IVOR  TH.  5 1 

no  means  deserted.  Many  couples  were  stroll 
ing  in  its  pleasant  lights  and  shadows,  and  now 
and  then  a  sailor,  with  his  blue  shirt  open  at  the 
throat,  and  his  lass  upon  his  arm,  went  down 
the  broad  way  singing  "Alice  Grey." 

It  was  the  song  of  the  time.  He  had  heard 
his  men  drawling  it  on  the  mizzen-top  and  top 
gallant,  at  the  wheel  and  in  the  forecastle  ;  but 
hitherto  he  had  taken  little  note  of  it.  It  was 
different  now.  He  had  fallen  himself  into  a 
condition  which  enabled  him  to  divine  that 
sense  of  actual  suffering  in  the  commonplace 
words  which  gave  them  in  so  many  hearts  a 
pathetic  echo.  About  Canal  Street  he  stopped 
to  listen  to  a  sailor  lad  rolling  his  way  river- 
ward  to  the  complaining  melody — 

She's  all  my  fancy  painted  her, 

She's  lovely,  she's  divine  ; 
But  her  heart  it  is  another's, 

It  never  can  be  mine. 
Yet  loved  I,  as  man  never  loved, 

A  love  without  decay  ; 
Oh,  my  heart  !  my  heart  is  breaking, 

For  the  love  of  Alice  Grey. 

As  he  listened  and  let  the  mournful  sylla 
bles  find  their  way  into  his  own  heart,  he 
heard  the  shouting  and  trampling  of  a  noisy 
crowd.  The  singer  forgot  his  breaking  heart 
and  ran  riverward  to  meet  it  ;  the  Captain  was 
also  instantly  alert  for  the  possible  danger. 
If  the  crowd  should  turn  northward  ?  He 


52  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

could  think  of  only  one  house  among  the 
many  which  might  be  in  peril.  For  aught  he 
knew,  Major  Mason  might  be  obnoxious  to 
the  mob  on  the  abolition  question  ;  or  if  not 
on  that,  on  the  English  question,  or  the  tariffs 
or  the  Bank  Charter.  Tempers,  in  the  heat 
of  the  various  discussions  then  pending,  had 
been  burnt  to  tinder;  a  spark  of  any  kind 
would  fire  them. 

He  did  not  wait  to  see  in  which  direction 
the  mob  would  move,  but  hasted  up-town  at  a 
rapid  walk.  At  Spring  Street  he  stopped  to 
listen.  The  crowd  had  evidently  gone  down 
Broadway;  a  few  scatterers  from  it  were 
noisily  following  him  ;  but  they  seemed  good- 
natured  in  their  bluster  and  their  hoarse 
laughter,  and  he  finally  stayed  a  man,  and 
asked  what  the  Canal  Street  crowd  were 
after? 

"Good  luck  to  ye,  dear!  We  were  aftef 
having  an  illegant  picnic  up  the  river;  racing 
we  were,  all  the  way  to  Albany  and  back.  A 
lot  of  poor  bodies  on  the  '  Champlain,'  and 
ourselves  on  the  '  Nimrod,'  to  their  defiance. 
And  the  '  Champlain  '  pushing  hard,  but  we 
leaving  her  genteelly  behint,  and  coming  first 
into  dock.  Glory  be  to  the  saints  !  A  great 
race  intirely." 

"  Was  the  '  Champlain  '  far  behind  the 
*  Nimrod  '  ?  " 

"  The   length    of    the    ship    itself — and    the 


NELL  Y  HA  WORTH.  53 

heart-scalded  creatures  crying  for  a  fight  on  it ; 
and  ourselves  shouting  on  the  victory,  and  the 
perlice  nowhere,  and  not  wanting  to  be  any 
where.  Wur-rah  !  it's  myself  that's  tired  with 
the  glory  and  honor  " — and  he  went  onward 
with  his  crushed  hat  on  the  top  of  his  walking 
stick,  affronting  the  quiet  night  with  a  half 
drunken  crooning  of  a  Whiteboy  song. 

Then  Captain  Bradford  pursued  his  walk  as 
far  as  the  Mason  house.  It  was  nearly  ten 
o'clock,  and  he  had  no  other  hope  than  that  of 
seeing  the  place.  A  man  looks  kindly  at  the 
bank  where  he  has  a  good  deposit.  A  mother 
looks  fondly  up  to  the  window  of  her  nursery. 
A  lover  finds  in  the  outside  of  the  dwelling 
which  shelters  his  mistress  an  irresistible  and 
inexplicable  charm. 

There  were  lights  burning,  but  the  shades 
were  drawn,  and  the  house  was  very  still.  He 
resolved  to  indulge  himself.  He  would  walk 
the  block  opposite  it  just  twenty  times,  neither 
more  nor  less — ten  times  up,  ten  times  down 
— and  then  go  back  to  the  "Arethusa."  At 
the  third  trip  a  carriage  drove  rapidly  round 
the  corner,  the  front  door  opened,  and  he  saw 
Virginia  standing  in  the  lighted  hall,  with  Jane 
Keteltas-by  her  side.  She  kissed  Jane  fondly, 
and  walking  to  the  door  with  her,  watched  the 
carriage  out  of  sight. 

Now,  if  Marius  had  been  strict  with  himself, 
he  ought  to  have  been  at  the  other  extremity 


54  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

of  the  block ;  but  he  began  to  loiter  when  he 
saw  the  carriage,  and  he  stood  still  when  he 
saw  the  door  open.  Then  he  made  a  new 
bargain  with  himself :  he  would  gaze  at  Vir 
ginia  until  the  last  moment,  and  withdraw  his 
claim  to  the  other  seventeen  trips.  Even 
while  he  was  making  it,  Virginia  moved 
slightly.  She  was  turning  into  the  house,  but 
something  arrested  her.  It  was  the  ardent 
gaze  of  her  lover ;  for  no  magnet  is  so  power 
ful  as  the  human  eye  when  it  is  full  of  purpose 
or  feeling. 

Swiftly  as  a  thought  her  eyes  answered  the 
entreaty.  She  gazed  forward,  her  vision 
caught  the  vision  that  summoned  it,  and  in 
the  bright  moonlight,  a  figure  so  tall  and  so 
conspicuous  in  its  uniform  could  not  be  mis 
taken.  Marius  lifted  his  cap,  and  on  his  out 
stretched  and  upraised  arm  the  moonlight 
caught  the  glittering  band.  It  flashed  a 
double  recognition,  and  Virginia  did  not  hesi 
tate  a  moment  to  answer  it.  She  sent  a  smile 
across  the  empty  street,  and  he  caught  the 
glory  and  warmth  of  it  in  his  heart. 

A  moment  she  stood  with  a  charming  and 
conscious  irresoluteness,  and  he  divined  that 
she  would  not  close  the  door  while  he  lingered. 
He  lifted  his  cap  again.  She  bent  slightly 
forward,  and  as  he  passed  onward  he  heard 
the  door  close,  not  as  a  careless  heart  would 
close  it,  but  slowly,  with  a  soft  reluctance. 


NELL  Y  HA  WOR  TH.  5  5 

Oh,  how  glad  and  happy  he  was  !  He 
walked  as  if  on  air.  He  was  conscious  of  no 
effort,  sensible  of  no  fatigue.  He  only  knew 
that  his  steps  kept  time  to  some  mysterious 
music,  that  his  lips  kept  constantly  murmur 
ing,  "  Oh,  my  love  !  my  love  !  my  love  1 " 


CHAPTER     IV. 
JANE'S  LOVER. 

"  The  pleasure  of  pleasing  is  legitimate,  and  the  desire  tc 
rule  offensive." 

"  Politeness  is  the  flower  of  humanity.  He  who  is  not  polite 
enough  is  not  human  enough." 

"  When  Love  begins  to  slacken  and  decay, 
It  uses  an  enforced  ceremony; 
There  are  no  tricks  in  plain  and  simple  faith." 

THE  little  tableau  which  Captain  Marius 
had  witnessed  was  not  an  unusual  one. 
When  Jane  stayed  late  with  her  friend,  there 
was  an  understanding  that  Virginia  should 
send  her  home.  John  Paul  did  not  permit 
his  horses  to  leave  their  stable  after  the  sun 
had  fallen,  except  on  extraordinary  occasions. 
"  They  have  done  their  day's  work,  and  they 
ought  to  have  their  night's  rest,"  he  always 
said;  "and  if  Jane  is  out  amusing  herself, 
when  she  ought  to  be  in  her  bed,  the  horses 
are  not  to  suffer.  No,  no ;  one  must  be  just 
even  to  the  dumb  beasts." 

On  this  day  there  had  been  so  much  to  talk 
about  that  ten  o'clock  had  found  Jane  and 
Virginia  with  still  undiminished  enthusiasm. 
The  morning  had  been  devoted  by  Virginia 


JANE'S  LOVER.  57 

to  the  pleasant  work  of  unpacking,  and  her 
special  treasures  lay  in  rich  confusion  on  the 
bed,  sofa,  and  chairs  of  her  own  room.  Jane's 
advent  about  noon  was  a  real  delight.  The 
two  charming  women  went  laughing  up-stairs 
together,  and  stood  with  admiring  exclama 
tions  among  the  beautiful  garments  and  adorn 
ments  Virginia  had  brought  home. 

For  some  time  nothing  else  was  thought  of ; 
but  in  a  pause  of  their  delightful  examination, 
Virginia  asked,  with  a  sudden  curiosity,  "  Did 
Mr.  Forfar  call  on  you  last  night  ?  " 

"  He  never  came  near  us.  I  kept  on  my 
green  silk,  and  was  as  cross  and  uncomfortable 
as  possibje.  At  tea-time  father  gave  me  one 
sidelong  look,  and  I  felt  like  a  fool,  Virginia, 
and  not  at  all  grateful  to  Mr.  Forfar  for  the 
experience.  But  he  came  this  morning." 

"  He  came  this  morning  ?  And  were  you  as 
pretty  as  possible  ?  " 

"  I  did  not  want  another  look  from  father, 
so  I  wore  one  of  my  usual  morning  gowns, 
the  'prettiest  I  have,  and  I  had  a  velvet  band 
around  my  brow  and  throat.  My  hair  was 
well  dressed,  and  I  have,  as  you  may  see,  a 
very  good  complexion  to-day.  He  came 
about  ten.  I  was  sitting  at  my  worsted  work, 
and  when  he  walked  up  the  garden  path  I  saw 
him  partially  through  the  syringa  bushes.  Of 
course  I  expected  he  would  be  brought  to  the 
parlor  at  once  ;  but  he  must  have  asked  for 


58  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

father,  for  he  was  taken  to  his  business  room, 
and  there  he  remained  for  two  hours." 

"Two  hours,  Jane  ?" 

"Two  full  hours.  Dinner  was  nearly  ready 
when  father  brought  him  to  the  parlor.  I  was 
on  pins  and  needles  by  that  time,  and  too 
cross  to  lift  my  eyes,  until  father  and  Mr.  For- 
far  stood  at  the  frame-point.  'Jane,'  said 
father, 'here  is  Mr.  Nigel  Forfar.  His  father 
was  my  friend,  Jane,  and  I  hope  you  and  Nigel 
will  put  another  knot  in  the  old  tie.'  What 
could  I  do  after  that  but  rise  and  say  some 
thing  cordial  ?  and  I  flashed  him  a  look  from 
my  eyes,  as  I  lifted  them,  which  is  generally 
successful." 

"  I  have  seen  that  flash,  Jane.  Could  this 
Southern  gentleman  resist  it  ?  " 

"  He  caught  it  in  hfs  own  eyes,  and  flashed 
it  back  on  me.  And  such  eyes,  Virginia,  I 
never  met — so  black,  and  so  glowing !  '  I've 
got  my  deathe  with  them,'  as  the  old  song 
says." 

She  laughed,  but  there  was  something 
troubled  or  serious  below  th^  affected  mirth. 
"He  is  very  handsome,  Virginia.  You  must 
have  thought  so." 

"  He  is  tall  and  stately  looking,  and  his  face, 
though  swarthy,  is  finely  formed.  But  his 
manners  are  repellent,  and  every  one  on  the 
'Arethusa'  thought  his  temper  execrable." 

"  He  disliked  the  captain." 


JANE'S  LOVER.  59 

"  Disliked  the  captain  ?  How  could  any  cne 
do  that  ?  " 

"  He  said  he  was  offensively  authoritative 
for  the  master  of  a  mere  packet  ship." 

"  He  had  to  be  authoritative  with  Mr.  Forfar. 
The  gentleman  could  not  forget  that  he  was  a 
slave  owner.  He  wished  the  ship  run  to  suit 
his  ways  and  likings,  and  treated  Captain  Brad 
ford  as  if  he  was  his  property." 

"  Southern  gentlemen  are  usually  very  haugh 
ty.  They  have  the  habit  of  command  from 
their  babyhood." 

Then  they  should  keep  their  habit  at  home 
among  their  slaves.  The  captain  of  a  mail 
packet  when  once  at  sea  allows  no  one  to  com 
mand  him  ;  and  my  father,  and  others  on 
board,  regarded  his  pretensions  as  ridiculous, 
and  treated  them  with  contempt." 

"  You  need  not  get  so  angry  about  it,  Vir 
ginia  ;  and,  really,  I  think  Mr.  Forfar  must 
have  had  a  very  unpleasant  voyage." 

"  Very  likely.  I  am  quite  sure  his  negro 
valet  did." 

"  And  he  says  he  does  not  think  Captain 
Bradford  a  good  sailor." 

"  Captain  Bradford  is  the  best  sailor  that 
crosses  the  Atlantic.  Your  father  knows  that. 
Every  one  in  Liverpool  said  so,  and  father  and 
I  thought  very  highly  of  his  seamanship.  The 
second  night  we  were  out,  when  off  the  coast 
of  Ireland,  there  was  a  storm.  The  captain 


6o  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

saw  it  coming,  and  he  could  have  crept  into  a 
small  bay  near  us ;  most  sailors  would  have 
done  so ;  but  he  set  all  sail  and  went  out  to 
sea  to  meet  the  storm.  That  is  Captain  Brad 
ford.  Mr.  Forfar  was  in  his  cabin  ill  with  sea 
sickness — or  fright." 

"  Oh,  not  fright,  Virginia !  I  am  sure  Mr. 
Forfar  is  no  coward." 

"  I  do  hope  you  are  not  going  to  fall  in  love 
with  this  man,  Jane.  I  am  certain  he  will 
make  any  woman  miserable.  He  has  an  ill- 
conditioned  temper,  exercising  itself  without 
reason,  and  scolding  on  its  own  account." 

"  I  am  not  afraid  of  him,  Virginia,  and  you 
see  I  am  twenty-two  years  old." 

Trten  Virginia  changed  the  subject.  She 
felt  very  kindly  to  Jane,  and  kindness  is  wis 
dom.  And  she  also  knew  that  she  was  dis 
posed  to  be  unjust  to  Mr.  Forfar.  For,  though 
absent,  he  ruled  her  by  the  force  of  antipathy, 
just  as  others  possessed  her  by  the  force  of 
attraction. 

The  subject  was  not  hard  to  change  amid 
the  silks  and  laces,  the  fans  and  gloves,  the 
scarfs  and  scents,  and  jewelry  of  all  kinds,  by 
which  they  were  surrounded.  Near  ten  o'clock 
they  began  to  realize  that  they  had  done  noth 
ing  but  admire  and  try  effects,  and  tell  and 
listen  to  incidents  connected  with  each  sepa 
rate  purchase.  Then  the  carriage  was  ordered, 
and  the  pretty  tableau  enacted  which  sent 


JANE'S  LOVER.  6 1 

Marius  Bradford  back  to  the  "  Arethusa  "  in  a 
kind  of  mortal  seventh  heaven. 

Virginia  was  also  profoundly  moved  by  the 
event.     That  tall   figure  on  the  quiet  moonlit 
street,  that  momentary  vision  of  the  uncovered 
head    and    gleaming    cap,    made    her    tremble 
with  a  soft  delight.     She  said  a  hurried  good 
night    to    her    father,  who    was    reading   with 
quiet    smiles   his   installment    of  "  Pickwick," 
and  then  hastened   to  the  solitude  her  heart 
craved.     With  a  careless  movement  she  threw 
aside    some    spangled    gauzes,    occupying    the 
chair  which  would  give  her  the  best  view  of 
the    spot    upon    which    her   lover    had    stood. 
Her   warm    blushes    tinged    her  cheeks    with 
loveliest  color ;  her  eyes  shone  ;  she  was  con 
scious  of  a  strange,  sweet  tenderness,  new  and 
never  felt  before.     Their    transitory  recogni 
tion,    though    it    had     occupied     but    thirty 
seconds,  kept  her  waking    for  hours.     Amid 
the    treasures    of    European    markets    she    sat 
indifferent,  feeling  that  the   little  strip  of  rose 
silk   Marius  was   to   match  for  her  was  of   far 
more  importance.     As  the  moon  began  to  sink 
she  went  softly  to  bed  in  its  fading  light,  chill 
and  weary  with  that  reaction  which  as  surely 
follows  emotion  as  night  follows  day. 

In  the  morning  her  first  sense  was  one  of  an 
noyance.     The  untidy  room  offended  all  her« 
instincts  and  habits.     She  reproached  herself 
for  the   babbling,  useless  day   she   had   spent 


62  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

In  its  effects  it  had  spoiled  the  pleasure  she 
derived  from  the  unexpected  sight  of  Marius. 
How  much  sweeter  to  have  dreamed  herself  to 
sleep  in  a  room  spotless  and  orderly !  She 
rose  with  determination  in  all  her  movements, 
and  began  to  put  away  and  sort  and  side  as 
soon  as  it  was  daylight.  Her  moral  nature 
was  too  fine  to  endure  disorder  ;  her  spiritual 
life  too  real  not  to  be  sensibly  depressed  by 
its  presence. 

She  worked  steadily  all  day,  and  by  the  din 
ner  hour  she  had  accomplished  her  aim  ;  the 
room  had  regained  its  normal  atmosphere  of 
purity  and  repose.  Jane  had  not  called,  there 
had  been  no  delays,  and  she  felt  happy  in  the 
sense  of  work  accomplished.  For  a  week  af 
terward  there  was  bad  weather,  and  she  saw 
nothing  of  her  friend — for  girls  did  not  then 
have  the  penny  post  and  messenger  boys  to 
carry  a  thousand  frivolous  notes.  They  bore 
the  little  uncertainties  of  their  lives  with 
equanimity,  trusting  that  all  would  turn  out 
well,  and  generally  finding  that  it  did  so. 

At  length,  one  fine  afternoon,  she  drove 
over  to  the  Keteltas  house.  Jane  met  her 
with  a  slight  embarrassment,  and  Virginia  un 
derstood  the  reason  when  she  found  Nigel 
Forfar  there.  He  had  not  approved  of  Vir- 
.  ginia  on  the  ship,  and  he  made  her  distinctly 
feel  that  he  did  not  approve  of  her  as  the 
friend  of  the  young  lady  whom  he  intended  to 


JACK'S  LOVER.  63 

marry.  It  was  in  vain  Virginia  ignored  her 
previous  experiences  with  the  gentleman  ;  in 
vain  she  told  herself  that  a  sea  voyage  generally 
brought  to  the  surface  the  unhumanized  traits 
in  a  man.  Forfar  seemed  determined  to  wan, 
tonly  and  willingly  offend. 

Assuming  the  Southern  predilections  of  the 
Keteltas  household,  he  affected  to  feel  it  quite 
in  order  to  ridicule  everything  not  Southern. 
He  complained  that  the  City  Hotel,  at  which 
he  was  stopping,  was  conducted  on  the  most 
vulgar  principles.  "  I  am  rung  out  of  bed,  and 
rung  in  to  every  meal,  as  if  I  were  a  servant  ; 
and  it  is  mine  host's  time,  or  else  no  other 
time,"  he  said  indignantly.  "  As  for  dinner, 
the  most  essential  meal  throughout  the  twenty- 
four  hours,  it  is  eat  in  a  hurry  that  is  perfectly 
disgraceful." 

"  There  are  so  many  essential  things  in  a 
New  Yorker's  twenty-four  hours,"  said  Vir 
ginia. 

He  did  not  notice  the  apology,  but  walking 
to  the  hearthrug  as  if  it  were  an  impregnable 
vantage  ground,  continued  : 

"  No  gentleman  eats  amid  rush  and  clamor. 
And  there  is  no  conversation  at  table.  If  you 
converse,  you  must  lose  your  meal.  In  the 
South  our  meals  are  taken  in  dignified  repose  ; 
nothing  is  hurried  ;  even  the  soup  has  its  proper 
recognition." 

"  New  York  has  no   time  for  dignified  din- 


64  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

ners,  Mr.  Forfar.  Every  one  has  something  to 
make,  or  something  to  learn,  or  something  to 
do  ;  people  generally  are  apt  to  regard  dinner 
as  a  necessary  but  unfortunate  waste  of  time." 

"That  is  no  excuse,  Miss  Mason.  People 
who  do  not  pay  attention  to  their  meals  will 
transact  all  other  affairs  carelessly.  They 
should  take  a  lesson  from  England  on  this 
subject." 

"  New  York  is  completely  a  la  franqaise. 
Paris  is  teaching  us  our  paces." 

"Then  you  will  be  led  to  revolution." 

"  We  have  been  there." 

"  And  to  ruin." 

"  That  is  for  our  enemies." 

"Pardon!  I  am  committing  an  indiscre 
tion,  in  talking  of  what  ladies  cannot  under 
stand." 

"  Oh  !  "  exclaimed  Virginia,  and  then,  see* 
ing  the  admiring  and  deprecating  look  on 
Jane's  face,  she  abandoned  the  controversy. 
But  every  subject  introduced  tended  toward 
the  same  irritable  point.  Virginia  lightly 
skimmed  the  surfaces  of  events;  Forfar  would 
neither  see  nor  accept  the  social  persiflage. 
If  they  spoke  of  places  both  had  visited  in 
Europe,  Virginia's  impressions  were  at  once 
assailed  with  realities.  For  the  man  had  that 
sort  of  learned  stupidity  which  quotes  books 
and  rests  itself  on  figures  and  facts. 

And  after  all,  is  there  anything  more  power- 


JANE'S  LOVER.  65 

ful  than  stupidity?  Wisdom  is  the  little  band 
of  pioneers,  stupidity  is  the  innumerable  army. 
Virginia  could  see  that  as  Mr.  Forfar  quoted 
Lord  Melbourne  and  Mr.  Peel,  and  fortified 
himself  with  alps  upon  alps  of  statistics,  Jane 
was  lost  in  admiration  for  a  young  man  at  once 
so  handsome  and  so  undeniably  clever.  She 
was  not  inclined  to  prolong  such  a  visit.  The 
pain  of  disputing  always  exceeds  its  pleasure  ; 
it  makes  the  mind  deaf,  and  then  it  is  best  to 
be  also  dumb. 

Jane  did  not  urge  her  to  remain,  though  she 
went  to  the  door  with  her,  and  demonstra 
tively  pulled  some  late  flowers  and  put  them 
into  Virginia's  girdle  with  a  kiss.  But  she  did 
not  speak  of  Nigel  Forfar,  and  Virginia  under 
stood  from  her  manner,  not  only  that  she  had 
determined  to  marry  him,  but  also  that  she 
had  determined  not  to  permit  any  unfavorable 
discussion  affecting  her  intention. 

In  this  apparently  ordinary  and  affectionate 
parting,  Virginia  suffered  a  pang  she  had  never 
before  felt — the  sense  of  a  heart-snub,  of  de 
sertion,  of  jealousy.  Until  she  reached  her 
home  she  restrained  the  hot  currents  which 
made  her  heart  burn  with  anger  and  her  eyes 
fill  with  passionate  tears.  But  the  first  mo 
ments  of  her  solitude  were  given  up  to  uncon 
trollable  weeping.  Jane,  if  she  had  not  already- 
done  so,  was  quite  ready  to  give  up  her  friend 
for  her  lover,  and  Virginia  thought  bitterly 


66  SHE   LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

of  this  man,  whom  she  had  disliked  on  instinct, 
taking  her  place  in  Jane's  heart,  and  rifling  it 
gradually  of  all  their  sweet  confidences  and 
little  womanly  secrets. 

But  there  is  always  some  comfort  in  every 
trouble,  if  we  will  only  look  for  it ;  and  in  the 
very  tide  of  her  sense  of  wrong,  she  remem 
bered  with  a  glow  of  satisfaction  that  she  had 
not  uttered  a  word  which  could  lead  Jane  to 
suspect  the  love  between  Captain  Bradford  and 
herself. 

"  What  a  wonder !  and  what  a  piece  of  good 
fortune  !  "  she  said  softly.  "  I  never  kept  any 
thing  from  Jane  before.  I  told  her  all  about 
young  Van  Buren  and  Marcus  White;  but  of 
you,  Marius  !  "  and  she  looked  with  large,  ten 
der  eyes  far  away  beyond  mortal  vision,  "  of 
you,  Marius,  I  never  spoke  at  all  !  " 

Yet  even  with  this  source  of  comfort  she  was 
greatly  troubled,  and  her  red  eyes  and  look  of 
annoyance  did  not  escape  her  father's  notice. 
But  Major  Mason  was  not  a  consolatory  busy 
body.  He  knew  from  personal  experience  how 
much  solace  there  is  in  those  homely,  orderly 
duties  which  include  the  pleasure  of  others  as 
well  as  our  own.  He  saw  that  her  dinner  in 
his  company,  and  her  care  for  his  satisfaction, 
brought  back  her  cheerfulness,  and  he  quite 
expected  the  confidence  which  came  as  they 
quietly  sat  together  in  their  after-dinner  ses 
sion. 


JANE'S   LOVER.  67 

"  Father,  put  down  your  book  ;  I  want  to 
talk  to  you  a  little." 

"  Would  you  like  to  go  to  the  Park  Thea 
ter,  Virginia  ?  I  am  at  your  service." 

"  No.  I  have  been  to  a  little  play  this 
afternoon." 

"  A  tragedy  ?  " 

"  It  may  turn  out  to  be  one.  You  know 
how  dearly  I  love  Jane  Keteltas.  Once  she 
loved  me,  but  now " 

"  Has  she  got  a  lover  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Mr.  Forfar." 

"  Then  be  content  to  resign  her.  A  great 
many  women  would  prefer  Mr.  Forfar  to  a 
lifelong  friend." 

"  How  can  any  woman  like  him  ?  He  is  so 
domineering  and  so  ill-tempered." 

"  They  would  look  at  his  inches,  at  his  aris 
tocratic  manner,  and  his  really  handsome  face, 
and  ignore  his  ill  temper.  As  for  his  com 
manding  way,  women  yearn  naturally  for  a 
master,  and  when  they  find  one  they  are 
happy  to  sing  '  hosanna  '  to  him." 

"Jane  sang  it  in  an  adoring  silence,  nodding 
her  pretty  head  as  chorus  to  all  his  assertions. 
I  came  away  before  the  play  was  over." 

"  Very  proper.  It  is  one  of  the  most  im 
portant  elements  of  good  manners  to  know 
when  you  personally  are  in  the  way." 

"  Father,  be  so  kind  as  to  close  your  book  a 
few  minutes.  I  want  you  to  comfort  me 


68  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

about  Jane.  I  think  if  she  makes  Forfar  her 
husband,  she  will  make  him  her  lord  and  mas 
ter ;  and  he  will  be  an  unjust  lord  and  a  cruel 
master." 

"  I  am  by  no  means  sure,  Virginia,  that  For 
far  will  find  a  willing  slave  in  your  friend 
Jane.  I  have  a  great  respect  for  little,  sandy- 
haired  women.  It  is  the  long,  swan-necked 
women  who  are  easily  cowed,  and  who  fall 
into  fainting  fits.  A  woman  like  Jane  is  usu 
ally  all  sheer  pluck." 

"  Do  you  put  me  among  the  swan-necked, 
fainting  tribe,  father  ?  If  you  do,  I  consider 
your  theory  without  bottom.  I  should  snap 
my  fingers  at  ,Mr.  Forfar's  commands.  I 
should  contradict  his  authoritative  assertions. 
I  should  laugh  at  his  pretensions." 

"You  are  not  in  love  with  him.  You  do 
not  even  admire  him." 

"  Neither  do  you  '  even  admire  him,'  father. 
Forfar  is  one  of  those  people  of  whom  we  say 
instinctively  and  emphatically, '  They  are  hate 
ful  and  we  hate  them.'  " 

"  Virginia  !  " 

"  Excuse  me,  father.  You  may  put  the 
sentiment  in  more  Christian  language,  but  the 
sentiment  is  the  same.  There  is  a  repulsive 
atmosphere  around  Nigel  Forfar  that  would 
chill  anything  short  of  a  mother's  affection.  I 
wonder  Jane  is  not  sensitive  to  it." 

"  There    may     be   a   human     chemistry    to 


JANE'S  LOVER.  69 

account  for  it.  Something  is  running  in  my 
head  from  old  school  days,  when  I  was  taught 
that  two  alien  substances  could  be  united  by 
a  third  that  was  sympathetic  to  both.  Jane 
and  Nigel  may  be  alien  in  their  previous 
separate  conditions,  but  made  one  by  the  in 
fluence  of  John  Paul  Keteltas,  who  is  probably 
sympathetic  both  with  the  young  man  and  his 
daughter." 

"  Chemistry  may  convince,  but  it  does  not 
comfort.  There  is,  however,  some  satisfaction 
in  Jane's  small  stature  and  sandy  hair.  You 
are  sure  that  they  can  be  relied  on,  father?" 

Major  Mason  laughed  and  closed  his  book, 
with  the  air  of  a  man  who  is  conquered. 

"  I  really  do  not  know  what  to  say,  Virginia  ; 
I  see  in  your  case  an  evidence  of  persistence 
in  tall,  slender  women  which  might  be  fatal  to 
my  hypothesis.  Still,  if  you  will  consider  it, 
names  are  facts,  and  somehow  imply  the  kind 
of  personality  they  stand  for.  What  idea  does 
Delilah  give  you  ?  " 

"  I  should  think  she  was  a  tall,  large  woman, 
with  black  velvety  eyes  and  black  hair.  I 
dare  say  she  wore  Tyrian  purple,  and  many 
gold  ornaments  about  her  throat  and  arms." 

"  I  think  you  are  right.  If  Delilah  had  been 
a  little  woman,  she  would  never  have  conde 
scended  to  deceive  Samson.  She  would  have 
taken  him  unshorn.  Jael  must  have  been  a 
large  woman,  or  she  would  not  have  murdered 


7°  SHE  LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

her  enemy  sleeping.  Judith's  tactics  would 
never  have  suggested  themselves  to  a  little 
woman,  full  of  fire  and  force  and  passionate 
recklessness.  But  I  will  tell  you  who  was  a 
small,  light-haired,  probably  freckled  woman  : 
the  Queen  Jezebel — the  intrepid,  courageous 
partisan,  who  dared  single-handed,  and  with  a 
great  deal  of  success,  the  whole  power  of  a 
cruel  and  tyrannical  priesthood.  It  is  not  very 
orthodox,  but  I  am  not  able  to  resist  a  sly 
admiration  for  that  clever  little  Phoeni 
cian  princess.  Now,  what  do  you  think  of 
Jane  ?  " 

"  I  think — Janevj'\\\ — perhaps — hold  her  own 
rights.  But,  father,  in  history  and  poetry, 
large  women  seem  to  be  the  favorites.  There 
was  Juno 

"  An  ox-eyed,  towering  giantess.  Any  little 
American  girl  would  give  her  favors,  and  then 
sail  all  round  her." 

"The  Norse  women,  father?  They  were 
large  and  stately,  and  they  did  whatever  seemed 
good  in  their  own  eyes." 

"  They  are  the  exception  that  proves  the 
rule.  They  not  only  slashed  their  way 
through  history,  but  sat  as  queens  over 
their  households." 

"  Perhaps  I  have  a  drop  of  the  Norse  elixir 
in  my  blood." 

"  Very  likely.  The  Masons  come  from  a 
part  of  Yorkshire  in  which  the  Norse  settled. 


JANE'S  LOVER.  71 

But  who  has  the  formula  of  the  elements 
which  are  mingled  potently  in  a  fine  nature  ? 
Have  I  satisfied  you  that  if  there  should  be 
any  struggle  between  Jane  Keteltas  and  Nigel 
Forfar,  Jane  will  be  very  apt  to  give  him  a 
deal  of  trouble?  " 

"  But  Love  may  tie  both  her  will  and  her 
hands.  You  know  that  you  may  kill  a  bird  on 
her  nest,  and  she  will  not  fly.  Love  has 
clipped  her  wings." 

"  Nay,  then,  if  you  bring  in  Love,  I  have 
nothing  to  say.  Love  sets  all  reason  at 
naught.  I  may  as  well  go  on  with  my  book  ; 
an  argument  where  Love  intrudes  is  noth 
ing  but  exceptions ;  and  the  impossible  is 
precisely  the  thing  most  likely  to  hap 
pen." 

The  comfort  these  reflections  gave  Virginia 
was  not  great,  but  it  was  as  much  as  people 
ever  receive  from  the  discussion  of  probable 
events.  Mr.  Mason  left  the  unprofitable  em 
ployment  with  a  little  polite  mental  loitering, 
but  he  was  glad  to  reopen  his  new  volume  of 
Lockhart's  "  Life  of  Scott,"  and  put  Jane 
Keteltas  out  of  his  consideration.  Virginia 
went  to  her  room  earlier  than  usual.  She 
had  a  sense  of  deprivation  and  loneliness. 
But  a  little  reflection  convinced  her  that 
Jane's  absorbing  interest  in  Nigel  Forfar  was 
only  temporary.  When  the  novelty  of  his 
attentions  was  over,  she  would  regain  her 


72  .T.V/i    LOl'ED   A    SAILOR. 

influence  over  her.  This  hope  somewhat  com 
forted  her,  for  to  be  happy  in  life  we  must  be 
able  bravely  to  blind  ourselves. 

Besides,  when  it  came  to  thinking  steadily  of 
her  friend,  she  found  it  impossible.  No  matter 
how  often  she  brought  back  her  mind  to  this 
starting-point,  in  a  few  moments  she  found  her 
self  following  the  "  Arethusa."  Jane  was  a 
thousand  leagues  behind,  and  her  heart  was 
full  of  the  lonely  man  standing  by  the  wheel 
or  the  mainmast,  or  slowly  pacing  the  deck. 

She  remembered  one  night  when  they  were 
just  out  of  Liverpool,  walking  the  deck  with 
her  father  and  meeting  him  there.  His  face 
was  lifted  to  the  rigging,  where  the  boatswain 
and  two  sailors  were  busy,  and  he  stood  aside 
a  little  to  let  them  pass  more  easily.  In  the 
passing,  her  father  said,  "  A  fine  night,  Cap 
tain  " ;  and  the  Captain  lifted  his  cap  and 
answered:  "A  fine  night,  and  a  fine  passage, 
sir,  if  it  so  please  God  !  "  She  recalled  every 
detail  of  this  meeting.  She  forgot  Jane,  and 
Jane's  probable  fate,  and,  thinking  of  her  own 
lover  with  the  fear  and  tenderness  his  constant 
danger  inspired,  she  went  to  sleep  whispering 
for  him  his  own  prayer — "  A  fine  passage,  if  it 
so  please  God  !  " 


CHAPTER  V. 

A  LITTLE   LOVE   AND   A   LITTLE    MONEY. 

"  Cupid's  fled,  no  man  knows  whither  ; 
But  another  Cupid's  come, 
With  a  brow  of  care  and  gloom, 
Fixed  upon  the  earthly  mold, 
Thinking  of  the  sullen  gold, 
In  his  hand  the  bow  no  more, 
At  his  back  the  household  store 
That  the  bridal  gold  must  buy." 

"  The  world  is  too  much  with  us,  late  and  soon  ; 
Getting  and  spending,  we  lay  waste  our  powers." 

FOR  a  few  weeks  there  was  no  great  appa 
rent  change  in  the  lives  of  Virginia  Mason 
and  Jane  Keteltas,  yet  from  the  seed  of  events 
sown  it  was  easy  to  predicate  the  future.  For 
unavoidably  in  all  our  plans  we  prophesy  in 
part ;  the  action  of  to-day  generates  the  ac 
tion  of  to-morrow ;  and  the  thing  we  intend 
brings  with  it  a  host  of  things  we  did  not  in 
tend  ;  and  in  this  twilight  of  perception  the 
best  and  the  wisest  have  to  labor. 

The  fortunes  of  Jane  and  Nigel  Forfar  were, 
however,  perceptibly  moving  onward  to  a  well- 
defined  end.  Jane  was  deeply  in  love  with  the 
young  Southerner,  and  Nigel  appeared  to  be 
fascinated  by  Jane's  fair  beauty  and  intellectual 
73 


74  SHE  LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

brightness.  Evidently  the  course  of  this  true 
love  was  destined  to  run  smoothly,  with  the 
exception  of  such  gusts  and  glooms  as  arose 
from  the  tyrannical  temper  of  Nigel,  and 
Jane's  rebellions  against  it. 

In  their  courtship,  Virginia,  though  she  was 
unaware  of  it,  had  become  a  prominent  ele 
ment.  She  was  the  hinge  on  which  their 
veiled  battle  for  supremacy  turned.  To  spend 
a  day  with  her  friend  was  Jane's  way  of  de 
claring  her  independence  of  thought  and 
action.  Every  such  occasion  gave  Nigel  a  fit 
of  jealousy.  He  could  not  endure  that  the 
woman  he  loved  should  care  for  the  love  of 
any  other  creature  but  himself.  "  Am  I  not 
sufficient?"  he  asked  on  every  such  offense; 
and  sometimes  Jane  said  he  was,  and  some 
times  she  said  he  was  not. 

Virginia  did  not  suffer  as  much  in  the  un 
certainty  of  her  friend's  visit  as  she  would 
have  done  had  the  change  taken  place  a  little 
earlier.  The  hours  that  had  been  brightened 
by  Jane's  visits  and  chatter  were  very  agree 
ably  given  to  quiet  dreams  and  memories  of 
Marius  Bradford.  Her  father  also  claimed  a 
larger  portion  of  her  time  and  sympathy.  He 
was  gloomy  with  a  sense  of  coming  events, 
which,  though  uncertain,  were  portentous 
because  of  their  uncertainty.  A  feeling  of  re 
sponsibility  quite  strange  to  her  deadened, 
like  a  soft  pedal,  the  joyousness  of  her  natural 


A  LITTLE  LOVE  AND  A  LITTLE  MONEY.      75 

temper ;  and  her  father's  depression  stole  over 
her  life  as  silently  and  unconsciously  as  a  fog 
steals  over  the  meadows. 

The  symptoms  of  this  change  began  im 
mediately  after  their  return  from  Europe. 
She  remembered  the  first  shadow  of  it.  Fanny 
Kemble  was  playing  "  The  Stranger,"  and  her 
representation  of  Mrs.  Haller  had  roused  a 
deep  enthusiasm  in  New  York.  Virginia  had 
a  singular  reluctance  to  see  her.  Either 
through  a  dream  or  a  presentiment,  or  in  some 
occult  way  of  soul-prescience,  she  had  con 
ceived  a  superstitious  feeling  against  the  play. 
But  she  was  ashamed  to  express  her  unreason 
able  fear,  and  reluctantly  permitted  her  father 
to  take  her  to  its  last  representation.  Noth 
ing  particular  seemed  to  occur,  and  yet 
the  connecting  links  between  events  are 
as  mysterious  as  those  between  trains  of 
thought. 

In  one  of  the  intervals  between  acts  Joseph 
Cruger,  of  the  law  firm  of  "  Gushing  & 
Cruger,"  said  a  few  words  to  Major  Mason. 
Virginia  did  not  hear  their  import,  but  she 
saw  that  her  father  was  much  annoyed. 
Generally  she  did  not  scruple  to  make  in 
quiries,  but  in  this  case  it  was  not  until  the 
following  morning  she  felt  able  to  ask  : 

"  What  did  Mr.  Cruger  say  to  you  last 
night,  father?  I  am  sure  it  was  something 
disagreeable." 


76  SHE   LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

"Something  disastrous,  Virginia.  He  told 
me  that  stocks  in  which  I  am  greatly  inter- 
ested  have  had  a  heavy  fall,  and,  moreover, 
that  those  abolition  fanatics  are  making 
trouble  again,  just  when  we  have  trouble 
enough  without  their  nonsense." 

At  this  moment  a  visitor  was  announced, 
who  on  entering  presented  a  letter  to  Major 
Mason.  He  was  a  very  handsome  young 
man,  and  had  a  striking  likeness  to  Captain 
Bradford.  Virginia  walked  to  a  window 
overlooking  Broadway,  and  speculated  upon 
this  likeness.  Had  Captain  Bradford  a 
brother  ?  She  ransacked  her  memory  for 
some  definite  answer  to  the  question,  and  she 
had  almost  persuaded  herself  that  a  brother  in 
New  York  had  been  named  to  her,  when  she. 
heard  her  father  say  to  the  stranger: 

"  Give  this  letter  to  any  member  of  the  firm. 
Good-morning,  Mr.  Rhea."  Then  he  turned 
to  Virginia  and  said,  "  We  cannot  do  the  shop 
ping  I  intended  to-day.  I  am  needed  down 
town  on  business,  Virginia." 

"  Then  I  will  go  and  see  Jane.  I  am  afraid 
you  have  bad  news,  father." 

"  I  do  not  know  how  bad  yet,  so  we  will  not 
talk  of  it — at  the  worst,  a  few  thousands,  and 
we  can  still  live  without  them." 

The  words  haunted  her  as  she  walked  slowly 
up  Broadway  to  Fourteenth  Street.  She  was 
old  enough  to  understand  that  the  loss  of  a  few 


A  LIT7^LE  LOVE  AND  A  LITTLE  MOXEY.      Ti 

thousands  might  entail  all  the  misery  of  large 
wishes  and  means  that  did  not  go  their  length. 
The  gray,  cold,  somber  day  was  in  sympathy 
with  her  mood.  On  either  hand  the  gardens 
had  been  laid  waste  by  the  frost,  and  the 
trees  above  them  blown  thin  by  the  winds. 
Northward,  the  fields  rolled  away  bare  and 
brown  and  desolate.  It  was  only  when  she- 
cast  her  eyes  on  the  pleasant  dwellings,  with 
their  separate  airs  of  comfort  and  elegance, 
that  she  began  to  reason  away  her  drifting 
melancholy  thoughts,  and  assure  her  heart  that 
sinceniothing  can  be  accidental  with  God  all 
must  be  foreseen  and  provided  for) 

It  was  near  noon  when  she  arrived  at  the 
Keteltas  garden  gates.  John  Paul  had  a 
Dutchman's  instinct  about  flowers  and  shrubs, 
and  his  plot  was  still  pleasant  with  Michael 
mas  daisies,  rosemary,  and  hardy  plants.  The 
fallen  leaves  had  been  removed,  the  dead  vines 
burned,  the  evergreens  carefully  attended  to. 
For  in  every  season  Keteltas  got  all  the  profit 
and  pleasure  possible  out  of  his  flower  plot 
In  a  few  years  he  knew  that  it  would  be  too 
valuable  to  grow  roses  and  dahlias ;  but  until 
the  land  came  to  its  maturity  of  value,  he  was 
disposed  to  grow  the  finest  of  roses  and  dah 
lias,  and  to  grow  them  abundantly.  He  had 
bought  it  by  the  acre  ;  when  he  could  sell  it  by 
the  square  foot,  the  flowers  would  vanish  from 
it  forever. 


78  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

He  was  walking  about  its  firm,  clean  paths 
when  Virginia  entered.  His  peering  glance 
and  stoop  forward  arrested  her  steps.  "  Where 
is  Jane?"  she  asked,  almost  mechanically. 

"  Come,  come !  you  must  find  out  where 
Nigel  Forfar  is.  Jane  will  be  wherever  it  suits 
the  young  man  to  be.  She  lives  and  moves 
and  has  her  being  in  him.  Women  never  do 
but  they  overdo ;  never  love  but  they  over- 
love." 

"  I  think  men  should  hardly  complain  of 
that,  Mr.  Keteltas;  if  it  be,  as  you  say,  that 
Heaven  made  woman  for  man."  • 

"  Did  I  say  that  ?  Then  I  was  talking  like 
the  foolish  ones.  But  if  Heaven  did  so,  it  was 
while  man  was  asleep.  Had  he  been  awake, 
my  dear,  he  would  have  put  in  a  demurrer. 
Go  your  ways  in-doors  ;  Nigel  and  Jane  are  not 
far  off." 

She  found  them  in  the  ordinary  parlor. 
They  were  sitting  on  a  sofa  studying  a  map  of 
the  United  States.  There  are  men  who  can 
never  take  a  journey  without  studying  it  on  a 
map,  and  Nigel  Forfar  was  one  of  them.  He 
had  the  course  marked  out  to  Washington, 
and  in  his  pocket-book  the  probable  stopping- 
places  and  expenses.  He  had  been  all  the 
morning  busy  with  such  calculations,  and  was 
not  in  the  least  tired.  But  Jane  was  exceed 
ingly  weary,  and  Virginia's  entrance  gave  her 
the  longed-for  opportunity  of  desertion. 


A  LITTLE  LOVE  AND  A  LITTLE  MONEY.      79 

,  "  We  are  arranging  our  bridal  journey,  Miss 
Mason,"  said  the  prospective  husband.  He 
evidently  thought  that  this  explanation  would 
be  regarded  by  Virginia  as  a  polite  dismissal. 
But  Jane  had  arrived  at  the  point  of  rebellion, 
and  she  had  risen  to  meet  her  friend,  and  was 
helping  her  to  uncloak  with  all  those  sweet 
formalities  native  to  girls  who  are  confidential 
with  each  other.  Their  faces  touched,  they 
whispered  and  laughed  to  the  whisper,  they 
went  to  the  mirror  together,  they  kissed  and 
embraced,  and  were  excessively  affectionate  ; 
first,  because  it  really  pleased  them  to  be  so  ; 
second,  because  both  enjoyed  the  fact  that  it 
displeased  Nigel  Forfar. 

After  a  little  while  they  left  him  alone  with 
his  map  and  his  pocket-book,  and  went  to 
Jane's  room.  There  three  dressmakers  were 
at  work,  and  every  place  was  a  litter  of  .silks 
and  bombazines,  India  muslins  and  Saxony 
cloth.  Then  the  great  secret  came  out : 
"  Virginia,  I  am  to  be  married  at  Christmas. 
Nigel  wants  to  go  South,  and  I  do  believe  he 
is  afraid  to  leave  me  under  your  influence. 
He  considers  it  demoralizing." 

"  He  is  very  ungrateful.  Several  times  on 
the  '  Arethusa  '  he  would  have  been  publicly 
reproved  by  the  Captain  but  for  my  influence." 

"  Very  impertinent  of  the  Captain,  I  think." 

"  Are  you  actually  going  to  trust  yourself 
with  Mr.  Forfar?  I  do  not  like  this  sudden 


8o  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOF. 

hurry,  Jane.  When  you  spoke  of  your  marriage 
a  week  ago,  it  was  to  be  in  May." 

"  Nigel  has  reasons  for  returning  South,  and 
he  does  not  wish  to  leave  me.  He  supposes  I 
have  no  objections,  and  father  thinks  well  of 
the  change." 

"  Mr.  Forfar  has  a  fathomless  complaisance." 

"Well,  Virginia,  we  cannot  escape  either  our 
fate  or  our  fate  day.  Nigel  says  he  is  sure  our 
marriage  was  ordained  in  heaven.  He  believes 
everything  is  foreordained." 

"  That  is  a  poetic  fancy,  Jane.  If  Nigel  had 
not  come  to  see  you,  where  would  Fate  be  ? 
Fate  was  at  the  mercy  of  this  man's  caprice,  at 
the  mercy  of  a  score  of  other  circumstances. 
No  lover  preordained  by  Fate  for  me." 

"  I  do  not  think  you  are  talking  nicely,  Vir 
ginia.  There  is  fate  in  marriage.  Father  says 
so,  also.  If  Fate  does  not  bring  you  a  husband, 
what  then  ?  " 

"  Love  will  bring  me  one.  He  will  see  that 
we  meet  in  some  happy,  unaware  hour.  As  for 
a  short  engagement " 

';  It  is  better  than  a  never  ending  one." 

"  And  yet  it  cannot  help  having  a  flavor  of 
business  and  furniture  and  dress  about  it.' 

"  Well,  it  matters  little  to  me ;  and  Nigel 
says  it  makes  a  great  deal  of  difference  to  him. 
Nigel  has  a  great  many  objections  to  a  long 
engagement." 

"  I  have  no  doubt.     He  is  methodical,  and 


A  LITTLE   LOSE  AND  A  LITTLE  MONEY.      81 

dancing  attendance  on  you  tumbles  his  plans 
upside  down.  He  is  selfish,  and  he  is  com 
pelled  to  make  continual  sacrifices.  He  is 
proud  and  shy,  and  hates  to  be  exhibited  as  an 
engaged  man.  He  is  greedy,  and  looks  upon 
the  presents  he  makes  you  as  so  much  tribute 
money.  He  is  practical  and  business-like,  and 
would  prefer  to  reduce  the  poetry  of  marriage 
to  a  question  and  a  ceremony.  My  dear  Jane, 
forgive  me  !  I  do  not  like  this  hurry.  Put 
Forfar  off  until  the  spring.  No  one  knows  what 
may  happen  before  May." 

"  You  are  cruel,  Virginia.  You  know  I  love 
Nigel,  and  he  does  love  me.  Every  one  has 
their  own  way  of  loving.  You  are  so  unjust  to 
Mr.  Forfar.  He  says  you  are  his  enemy.  He 
feels  it,  Virginia — and  so  do  I." 

She  was  crying  a  little,  and  Virginia  was  im 
mediately  angry  with  herself.  What  good  was 
there  in  telling  people  unpleasant  truths? 
And,  after  all,  Forfar  as  a  lover  was  entirely 
out  of  her  judgment,  Love  being  a  purely  per 
sonal  poem,  and  having  no  obligation  to  be 
intelligible  or  interesting  to  others. 

She  took  her  friend  in  her  arms  and  kissed  her 
little  pretense  of  tears  away.  Then,  as  they 
turned  over  new  garments  and  discussed  the 
perennial  beauty  of  fashion,  they  grewr  once 
more  loving  and  confidential.  And  Virginia 
having  abandoned  her  position,  Jane  was  en 
abled  to  presume  a  great  deal  more  than  she 


82  SHE  LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

would  otherwise  have  done.  She  took  her  re 
venge  in  a  continual  covert  praise  of  her  lover, 
she  associated  him  with  all  her  hopes  and  plans 
of  happiness,  she  quoted  him  as  continually  in 
dorsing  or  dissenting  from  Virginia's  own  opin 
ions.  It  was  a  rather  conscious  fantasia  on 
dress  and  Nigel  Forfar. 

In  a  couple  of  hours  the  feeling  was  over 
strained.  Jane  was  weary  of  her  own  triumph, 
Virginia  depressed  with  the  effort  to  be  sym 
pathetic  and  enthusiastic.  They  went  down 
stairs  and  found  that  Nigel  had  left  on  some 
flimsy  pretense  ;  and  Jane,  in  her  heart,  blamed 
Virginia  for  her  lover's  defection.  No  effort 
was  made  to  detain  her,  and  she  said  "  good- 
by  "  with  a  conscious  constraint,  and  passed 
into  the  street.  It  had,  to  her,  a  dull,  wretched 
look  ;  the  men  and  women  on  it  wore  anxious 
faces.  She  did  not  reflect  that  she  saw  every 
thing  through  herself,  and  that  it  was  the 
shadow  of  her  own  mood  which  darkened  both 
nature  and  humanity. 

Her  spirits  rose  when  she  passed  within  the 
portals  of  her  home.  Outside  there  was  vari 
ableness  and  many  shadows  of  change  and 
turning;  but  Home  was  life's  standing  pleas 
ure.  She  hasted  to  her  room  ;  she  shook  off, 
she  washed  off  the  very  dust  of  the  unhappy 
day;  she  clothed  herself  in  fresh  garments, 
and  went  down  to  meet  her  father  suffused 
with  the  elements  of  serenity  and  hope. 


4  LITTLE  LOVE  AND  A  LITTLE  MONEY.      83 

The  Major  had  also  suffered  from  a  day  full 
of  contradictious  events  ;  she  perceived  this, 
though  culture  and  the  habit  of  social  restraint 
prevented  any  expression  of  it  during  the  ser 
vice  of  dinner.  To  the  faint  tinkle  of  the 
crystal  and  china  and  the  leisurely  movements 
of  the  soft-footed  servant,  he  spoke  of  the  new 
opera  house,  of  the  prima  donna,  of  Mr.  Clay 
and  Mr.  Everett's  visit,  and  of  a  large  dinner 
to  be  given  them  by  Chancellor  Kent ;  and 
suddenly,  as  he  moved  away  from  the  table,  of 
the  "Arethusa." 

"The  'Sully'  arrived  this  morning,  Vir 
ginia,  and  reports  the  '  Arethusa '  in  her 
wake." 

Virginia  blushed  vividly ;  that  beautiful 
blush  which  modesty  drops  between  the  eyes 
and  the  feelings  ;  that  effectual,  marvelous  veil 
which  keeps  the  senses  circumspect  and  pre 
serves  youth  from  stepping  out  of  its  igno 
rance  and  interrupting  its  happiness.  Virginia 
was  full  of  joy  and  longing  at  the  few  casual 
words  uttered  with  so  much  indifference ;  and 
yet  she  was  startled  at  the  near  approach  of 
love ;  and  her  instinct  was  to  fly  from  what 
she  most  desired. 

Fortunately,  the  movement  from  the  table 
and  the  walk  across  the  hall  into  the  parlor 
hid  all  her  timidity  and  embarrassment ;  and 
as  she  took  her  place  on  the  hearth  by  her 
father's  side,  she  answered : 


84  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

"  I  am  glad  the  '  Arethusa '  will  soon  be 
here.  Captain  Bradford  brings  me,  I  hope, 
some  silk  I  require  to  finish  my  dress  for 
Jane's  wedding,  and,  as  she  is  to  be  married 
at  Christmas,  very  little  time  is  left  to " 

"  You  amaze  me !  I  thought  Mr.  Forfar 
was  going  South  until  May." 

"  He  has  changed  his  mind ;  and  Jane  has 
given  way  to  him.  She  says  her  father  also 
thinks  well  of  an  early  marriage.  What  can  a 
girl  do  when  her  lover  and  father  both  urge  ? 
I  am  sure  she  will  be  disappointed  in  one  re 
spect  :  she  has  always  declared  in  favor  of  a 
magnificent  wedding  ceremony,  and  in  so 
much  hurry  it  is  impossible.  If  her  mother 
had  been  alive,  she  would  have  opposed  such 
imprudent  haste." 

"  I  have  heard  some  rumors  lately  of  Mr. 
Keteltas  and  the  widow  Jay.  It  is  three 
years  since  Mrs.  Keteltas  died  ;  he  may  really 
be  thinking  of  his  own  affairs.  Have  you 
heard  any  particulars  concerning  Jane's  mar 
riage  ?  " 

"  She  promised  to  come  here  to-morrow  and 
tell  me  all  the  arrangements.  They  were  not 
quite  completed  to-day.  Two  months  ago  I 
was  her  chief  counselor.  She  would  have 
nothing  I  did  not  approve;  and  this  afternoon 
she  was  shy  and  reticent,  and  I  think  not  very 
sorry  to  see  me  go  away.  So  much  for  friend 
ship,  father!" 


A  LITTLE  LOVE  AND  A  LITTLE  MONEY.      85 

"  Women's  friendships  are  but  pretty  bows 
of  ribbon — a  lover  easily  unties  them." 

"  Oh,  indeed,  father!  I  think  they  are  of  as 
good  material  as  men's  friendships.  You  were 
speaking  last  week  of  Mr.  Drayton's  friend, 
who  led  him  purposely  into  a  rotton  specula 
tion.  And  there  was  Mr.  Ogden's  friend,  who 
used  against  him  all  the  facts  confided  to  him 
In  trust  ;  and  Captain  Dawson's  friend,  who 
borrowed  his  money  and  then  stole  his  daugh 
ter.  Neither  hooks  of  steel  or  gold  will  now 
grapple  a  friend  to  you.  And  I  think  men  are 
quite  as  faithless  as  women." 

"Nevertheless,  there  is  no  David  and  Jona 
than  among  women." 

"  And  it  is  very  little  to  men's  credit  that 
"hey  have  to  go  back  so  far  for  an  example  of 
masculine  loyalty.  Have  you  nothing  fresher? 
T  dare  say,  also,  that  the  ancient  article  in 
friendship  was  just  as  false  as  the  modern. 
David  himself,  who  really  seems  to  have  had  a 
capacity  for  friendship,  complains  of  his  own 
familiar  friend  lifting  up  his  heel  against  him. 
And  remember  Caesar  and  Brutus,  father." 

"  Politically,  Virginia,  men  are  often  obliged 
to  be  unfriendly  to  those  they  love.  I  am  sure 
that  President  Jackson  suffers  in  the  course  he 
feels  himself  compelled  to  take." 

"  On  the  contrary,  I  think  he  positively  en 
joys  putting  his  will  against  the  will  and  the 
interests  of  the  whole  American  people.  I 


86  SHE   LOFED   A    SAILOR. 

heard  Mr.  Keteltas  railing  at  him  in  good  set 
terms  to-day." 

At  this  moment  Mr.  Keteltas  entered  the 
room.  He  came  in  crisp  with  the  frosty  air, 
rosy  as  a  winter  apple,  his  shrewd  smile  and 
peering  bright  eyes  making  quite  a  remarkable 
impression  above  his  white  neckcloth  and 
primrose-colored  vest. 

"  How  are  you,  Major  ?  I  heard  you  were 
deep  in  the  Delaware  and  Hudson  stock ;  also 
in  Camden  and  Amboy.  I  hope  I  have  heard 
a  false  report." 

"  I  am  sorry  to  admit  that  you  have  not,  Mr. 
Keteltas." 

"Eh,  what  do  you  say?  For  my  part,  I 
think  the  Creator  was  ill  off  for  a  turn  of  work 
when  he  made  Andrew  Jackson.  Why  cannot 
he  let  Biddle  and  the  Bank  alone  ?  Great  fish 
he  is  after  ;  but  great  fish  break  the  net,  and  if 
he  ruins  the  Bank,  he  ruins  the  country  also." 

"  President  Jackson  is  my  friend,  Mr.  Ketel 
tas.  He  is  actuated  by  the  loftiest  patriot 
ism.  You  must  think  so  if  you  consider  the 
subject." 

"  I,  and  men  in  general,  think  as  our  purses 
think,  Major.  It  is  well  known  that  Jackson 
hates  Biddle,  and  when  Jackson  hates  he  is 
like  an  Indian  on  the  war-path.  He  is  bent  on 
Biddle's  ruin,  and  quite  ready  to  ruin  the  coun 
try  if  he  cannot  accomplish  it  without." 

'' Sir,  the   Bank   of   the    United    States   has 


A  LITTLE  LOVE  AND  A    LITTLE  MONEY.      87 

been  too  long  the  keeper  of  the  public  money. 
It  has  used  it  to  corrupt  the  political  institu 
tions  of  the  country.  It  wants  a  new  charter. 
If  it  retains  the  public  money,  it  can  buy 
up  all  Congress ;  it  can  buy  any  privilege  it 
desires,  with  the  public  funds." 

"  The  President  has  his  veto." 

"  What  can  the  veto  avail  against  millions 
of  money  ?  Are  our  free  institutions  to  fall  un 
der  the  dictation  of  a  moneyed  combination?  " 

"  I  will  take  leave  to  say  that  a  moneyed 
combination  is  better  than  the  will  of  Andrew 
Jackson  and  his  Napoleonic  ideas  of  his  own 
authority." 

"  Andrew  Jackson  has  a  great  deal  of  plain 
common  sense." 

"  That  is  the  popular  nonsense  talk.  And 
common  sense  is  the  most  pernicious  of  doc 
trines  on  questions  of  banking  and  currency." 

"  Men  of  your  ideas,  Mr.  Keteltas,  want  a 
banker  in  the  Presidency." 

"And  it  is  my  opinion  that  a  banker  would 
be  better  than  a  mere  fighter.  Jackson's  idea 
of  ruling  is  force  of  some  kind  or  other." 

"  Force  and  right  rule  all  things  in  this 
world  ;  force  before  right  arrives.  But  we  for 
get  my  daughter,  Mr.  Keteltas  ;  she  does  not 
understand  or  feel  any  interest  in  this  conver 
sation.  To-morrow  I  will  convince  you  of 
your  error." 

"Yes,  yes,  I  was  not  thinking  of  Miss  Vir- 


88  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

ginia,  and  she  must  kindly  excuse  me  the 
oversight.  Indeed,  I  must  be  away,  for  I 
promised  a  fair  friend  to  go  to  the  theater 
with  her — a  foolish  thing  for  me  to  do." 

"  We  all  fall  into  temptation  sometimes, 
Mr.  Ketaltas." 

"  That  is  so.  Well,  Major,  I  came  to  give 
you  good  advice  ;  do  not  sell ;  stocks  will  rise 
again.  If  I  can  be  of  use  in  any  way,  my 
name  is  John  Paul  Keteltas,  and  it  is  at  your 
service." 

He  was  at  the  door  of  the  room  as  he  said 
the  words,  and  Major  Mason  followed  him 
with  a  frank  and  conspicuous  pleasure. 

"  Thank  you,  Mr.  Keteltas,"  he  said. 
"  When  I  have  forgotten  the  strait  that 
brought  your  offer,  I  shall  still  warmly  remem 
ber  the  kindness  that  brought  you  here  to  say 
those  words."  And  John  Paul  went  away 
blushing  at  his  own  generosity,  and  feeling  a 
most  unusuai  glow  as  he  walked  with  quick 
ened  steps  toward  the  house  of  the  widow 
Jay  in  Spring  Street. 

For  a  few  moments  Major  Mason  had  risen 
above  the  strata  of  his  anxieties.  The  little 
breath  of  sympathy  had  been  grateful  to  him  ; 
for  he  had  one  of  those  fine  natures  that  are 
capable  of  receiving  a  kindness — a  far  rarer 
excellence  than  that  of  doing  one.  He  re 
turned  to  his  daughter  with  a  smile  over  his 
face,  and,  as  he  bent  over  the  fire,  said  : 


A  LITTLE  LOVE  AND  A  LITTLE  MONEY.      89 

"  This  was  an  unusual  effort  for  Mr.  Ketel- 
tas  to  make,  Virginia.  How  much  better  are 
men  than  they  themselves  know !  " 

"  He  never  named  his  daughter.  This  quar 
rel  between  the  President  and  the  Bank  seems 
to  fill  every  man's  measure  of  feeling.  Is  it 
really  such  an  important  affair,  father?  " 

"  It  has,  at  least,  Virginia,  that  atmosphere 
about  it  which  we  call  the  spirit  of  the  time ; 
and  as  long  as  it  magnifies  the  subject,  we  shall 
be  deceived  both  as  to  its  truth  and  its  impor 
tance.  In  the  interim  many  will  suffer,  and 
there  will  be  dissension  and  bitter  feeling." 
Then,  seeing  that  he  had  an  interested  lis 
tener,  he  explained  the  quarrel  in  words 
which  he  considered  suitable  to  a  woman's 
comprehension  of  national  and  monetary 
affairs. 

"  The  United  States  Bank  has  been  for 
many  years  the  place  of  deposit  for  the  money 
belonging  to  the  Government.  It  has  become 
enormously  wealthy  and  enormously  powerful. 
It  is  said  to  use  its  wealth  for  political  pur 
poses.  Its  first  charter  is  nearly  out.  It  nat 
urally  wants  a  new  charter,  and  it  has  money 
enough  to  buy  every  vote  in  Congress." 

"  Every  vote  that  is  buyable,  you  mean, 
father?" 

"  Certainly.  We  must  suppose  there  are 
men  whom  no  money  could  buy.  Neverthe 
less,  it  is  asserted  that  Webster's  checks  for 


9°  SHE   LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

five  thousand  dollars  have  been  honored  when 
he  had  not  a  dollar  in  the  bank.  You  can 
see  how  such  an  institution,  having  million-  at 
its  command,  hampers  the  Government  ;  is 
stronger  than  the  Government  ;  is  the  Govern 
ment.  Jackson  regards  it  as  a  Babylonish 
monster  of  iniquity,  and  believes  its  power  to 
be  destructive  to  all  constitutional  liberty. 
He  has  said  it  shall  never  be  rechartered,  and 
it  never  will  be.  He  has  already  begun  to 
remove  the  Government  deposits,  and  to  put 
them  in  other  banks.  These  favored  banks  are 
in  collision  with  the  branches  of  the  United 
States  Bank ;  and  in  consequence  there  is  an 
awful  scarcity  of  money,  and  great  distress 
among  merchants  who  need  credit  to  sustain 
them.  Stocks  of  every  kind  have  fallen  ;  good 
notes  can  hardly  be  discounted  at  nine  per 
cent.,  and  I  am  afraid,  Virginia,  that  this  is 
only  the  beginning  of  the  trouble.  But,  in 
deed,  my  dear  girl,  as  you  cannot  help  af 
fairs  in  any  way,  you  might  just  as  well  not 
make  yourself  anxious  about  them." 

"But  they  make  you  anxious,  father ;  and 
whatever  does  that  I  must  feel." 

"  Let  us  have  a  game  of  chess.  You  shall 
be  the  United  States  Bank  and  I  will  be 
General  Jackson." 

"You  know  you  will  checkmate  me  in  a 
dozen  moves." 

"  That  will  carry  out  the  proposition.     The 


A  LITTLE  LOVE  AND  A  LITTLE   MONEY.      91 

Bank  is  already  checkmated  in  Jackson's  mind. 
He  has  only  the  moves  to  make." 

Chess  or  conversation,  it  was  the  same  ;  no 
subject  long  dismissed  the  central  one ;  and 
the  Major,  having  explained  it  to  his  daughter, 
now  felt  at  liberty  to  go  on  amplifying  his 
explanations.  Virginia  dutifully  tried  to  un 
derstand  and  to  sympathize  ;  but,  after  all,  the 
long  talk  about  deposits,  discounts,  and  stocks 
did  not  touch  her  half  so  sensibly  as  the  com 
mon  words  of  loss  and  poverty  which  had 
fallen  from  her  father's  lips  in  the  morning: 
"  A  few  thousands,  and  we  can  still  live  with 
out  them."  That  simple  resignation  to  a  cur 
tailed  life  brought  the  Bank  trouble  very  close 
to  her  comprehension. 

She  was  weary  and  thoughtful,  but  the  near 
ness  of  the  "  Arethusa  "  filled  her  with  tremu 
lous  hopes  and  happiness.  She  was  sure  that 
her  lover  was  at  hand.  And,  as  Love  takes 
the  character  of  the  souls  into  which  it  enters, 
Marius  had  grown  insensibly  to  harmonious 
excellence  in  Virginia's  imagination.  She  had 
given  to  him  the  charm  of  her  own  nature — 
the  charm  of  delicacy  undulled  ;  of  a  mind 
nimble  and  flexible,  loving  with  an  eternal 
uprightness,  always  faithful  and  affectionate. 

They  played  three  games,  and  she'  was  con 
scious  of  a  superstitious  disposition  to  fairly 
beat  her  antagonist.  But  even  in  mock  war 
fare  General  Jackson's  good  fortune  was  vie- 


92  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

torious.  Both  sighed  at  the  result.  "The 
Bank  goes,"  said  the  Major.  "  That  thin,  stern 
old  man  is  its  Fate.  It  will  crumble  before 
him."  He  took  his  book  and  drew  nearer  to 
the  fire.  There  were  no  other  words  but  "  good 
night  "  to  say,  and  they  fell  with  an  uncon 
scious  sadness  from  Virginia's  lips. 

She  saw  that  her  father  wished  to  be  alone, 
but  she  could  not  really  leave  him.  Into  the 
solitude  of  her  room  she  took  the  memory  of 
his  pale,  thoughtful  face.  She  understood  that 
he  was  bravely  and  quietly  facing  financial 
ruin,  because  he  believed  his  private  loss  would 
help  the  public  gain.  And  it  was  no  wrong  to 
him  that,  in  the  living,  loving  alcove  of  her 
heart,  she  gave  another  a  place  very  near  to 
him — the  young,  handsome  sailor,  outriding; 
wind  and  waves,  and  carrying  his  precious 
fate  of  human  life  safely  from  shore  to  shore. 

It  was  her  custom  always  to  read  the  pray 
ers  for  the  evening  service.  But  she  had  now 
come  to  one  of  those  straits  in  life's  journey 
where  humanity  feels  the  need  of  something 
closer  and  more  personal  than  the  general  form. 
Humbly  kneeling,  she  read  the  wofds  with  a 
reverent  spirit,  and  then  silently  let  that  holy 
imagination  which  is  the  eye  of  the  soul  rise 
beyond  the  words.  Then  she  was  strengthened 
and  comforted  ;  for  God  listens  to  thoughts 
and  feelings,  and  inward  words  are  the  words 
he  hears. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

LOVE'S   RENUNCIATION. 

"  Now  too — the  joy  most  like  divine, 

Of  all  I  ever  dreamt  or  knew, 
To  see  thee,  hear  thee.  call  thee  mine, 
Oh,  misery  !  must  I  lose  that,  too?" 

"  For  money,  like  the  sword  of  kings, 
Is  the  last  reason  of  all  things." 

"  And  Circumstance,  that  unspiritual  god 
And  miscreator,  makes  and  helps  along 
Our  coming  evils,  with  a  crutch-like  rod." 

AT  sunset  on  this  same  evening,  while  Vin 
ginia  was  casting  off  from  her  the  influ 
ence  of  the  day's  worry  and  dissatisfaction,  the 
"  Arethusa"  came  to  anchor  in  the  bay.  Her 
passengers  were  removed  on  a  small  steamer, 
but  Captain  Bradford  did  not  leave  his  ship. 
He  was  in  high  spirits,  for  he  had  the  hope  of 
very  soon  seeing  the  woman  whom  he  loved 
with  an  entire  and  sacred  affection. 

He  was  sitting  in  placid  happiness  enjoying 
the  quiet  cabin,  when  he  heard  a  merry  laugh 
that  went  to  his  heart  like  music. 

"Why,  Jack!"  he  cried,  as  the  young  man 
came  with  a  glowing  face  to  his  side,  "  I  did 
not  expect  to  see  you  to-night." 
93 


94  SHE   LOVED  A    BAILOR. 

"A  boat  going  down  the  river  took  me  in; 
and  I  knew  you  would  get  me  back  somehow 
early  in  the  morning;  and,  oh,  Marius!  I  did 
want  to  see  you  so  much." 

"  Nothing  wrong,  I  hope,  Jack  ?  " 

"  Why  do  people  in  uncertainty  always  sus 
pect  wrong  before  right  ?  No,  there  is  noth 
ing  at  all  wrong,  Marius." 

"Something  pleasant,  then  ?" 

"  Yes,  something  wonderful,  something  de 
lightful,  something  sweeter  than  you  can  im 
agine. 

"  Why,  Jack !  You  never  can  have  dared  to 
fall  in  love  again." 

"  I  am  fathoms  deep,  I  am  unfathomably 
deep  in  love.  I  am  over  head  and  heart.  I 
am  the  happiest  and  the  most  unhappy  man  in 
New  York." 

He  looked  straight  into  his  brother's  eyes 
with  a  frankness  that  in  some  way  expressed 
all  he  wished  to. 

"You  are  a  most  imprudent  young  man, 
then.  How  are  you  going  to  live  on  seven 
hundred  dollars  a  year?" 

"  I  have  not  come  to  that  question  yet, 
Marius.  When  I  do,  I  shall  very  likely  have 
a  much  larger  income.  You  see  the  lady  is  a 
good  deal  above  me — socially." 

"  You  always  were  one  to  look  upward, 
Jack.  Now,  who  is  it?  You  must  tell  me 
everything  or  nothing." 


LOVE'S  RENUNCIATION.  95 

"  Do  you  remember  the  Miss  Mason  who 
came  back  from  Europe  with  you  ? — why,  it 
was  on  the  last  trip  of  the  '  Arethusa.'  That 
is  the  reason  I  could  not  wait  an  hour  to  see 
you.  I  thought  you  could  tell  me  something 
about  her — that  I  could  talk  of  her  to  you. 
Oh,  Marius!  I  love  her!  I  love  her  better 
than  my  own  life " 

While  he  was  speaking  Marius  rose  and  pre 
tended  to  look  for  his  pipe.  If  his  brother 
had  struck  him,  he  could  not  have  felt  the 
blow  more  keenly,  even  in  a  physical  sense. 
He  was  sick,  faint,  blind  ;  he  reeled  like  a 
drunken  man,  and  could  find  nothing  but 
a  rough  ejaculation  to  relieve  the  terrible 
mental  shock,  and  equally  terrible  physical 
recoil. 

But  Jack  was  possessed  by  the  selfish  pas 
sion  of  a  lover.  He  perceived  nothing  of  his 
brother's  misery  ;  he  was  only  a  trifle  annoyed 
at  what  he  thought  the  "  indifference  "  to  his 
own  condition.  Why  did  Marius  not  wait  for 
his  pipe  ?  The  movement,  and  the  opening 
and  shutting  of  a  drawer,  broke  the  charm  of 
his  confidence. 

In  a  few  moments  the  pipe  was  found  and 
filled,  and  Marius  sat  down  again.  His  face 
was  white  through  all  its  tan  of  wind  and  sun  ; 
his  hands  trembled,  he  could  not  lift  his  eyes 
to  the  eyes  searching  his  for  sympathy.  It 
struck  Jack  in  a  few  minutes  that  something 


96  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOK. 

was  troubling  his  brother,  and  he  said,  with  an 
air  of  anxiety,  "  Marius,  you  look  sick." 

"  I  am  very  tired,  Jack.  The  voyage  has 
been  long  and  stormy.  So  you  are  in  love 
with  Miss  Mason  ?  Yes,  she  came  over 
with  me  on  my  last  trip.  She  is  a  very 
beautiful  women.  How  did  you  find  that 
out?" 

"  Cruger  &  Gushing  are  Major  Mason's 
lawyers.  There  has  been  a  deal  of  business 
lately — money  matters  and  mortgages.  I  was 
frequently  sent  to  Major  Mason's  house  with 
letters  and  papers ;  and  at  the  third  time,  the 
Major  introduced  me  to  Miss  Mason.  Always 
afterward  I  talked  with  her,  while  he  wrote 
the  answers  to  whatever  information  I  brought. 
I  could  not  help  loving  her.  I  do  not  believe 
any  man  could." 

"  Do  you  think  she  cares  for  you — in  that 
way,  Jack?  " 

"  I  hope  so." 

"  Oh,  Jack,  ask  yourself  this  question  truly 
and  answer  it  truly:  Do  you  really  think 
she — returns  your  love?  I  mean,  does  she 
feel  toward  you  as  you  do  to  her?  or  is  she 
simply  pleasant,  as  she  would  be  to  any  vis 
itor?  Now,  Jack,  be  true  to  yourself  and  to 
her.  Take  a  few  minutes  to  think,  and  do  not 
be  deceived." 

"  I  have  thought.  I  have  done  nothing  else 
but  think  for  three  weeks,  and  I  do  believe  she 


LOVE'S  DENUNCIATION.  97 

feels  an  interest  in  me  she  does  not  feel  for 
ordinary  callers.  Once  I " 

"  Go  on." 

"  Once  I  caught  her  looking  at  me.  I  never 
was  looked  at  just  in  the  same  way.  She 
seemed  trying  to  find  out  something  in  my 
face,  and  her  eyes  were  full  of  kindness.  Do 
you  not  think  she  was  trying  to  find  out  if  I 
loved  her  ?  " 

"  No.  That  would  be  very  unlike  her;  very 
unlike,  indeed." 

"  Well,  she  looked  at  me,  and  when  she  saw 
I  had  caught  the  look,  she  turned  scarlet  and 
left  the  room.  I  was  sent  there  to-day,  but  I 
think  she  was  out  of  the  house.  I  can  always 
feel  when  she  is  present,  even  if  I  do  not  see 
her.  You  are  not  as  interested  as  I  thought 
you  would  be,  Marius.  I  expected  '  Jack's 
love  affair '  would  be  a  wonderful  thing  to 
you.  I  have  been  longing  to  see  you." 

"Jack,  all  that  interests  you  interests  me 
also.  My  God!  do  you  not  know  that?"  He 
spoke  with  great  emotion,  and  looked  almost 
reproachfully  into  the  young  man's  face. 

"  Of  course  I  know  it,  Marius.  That  is  the 
reason  I  could  not  wait  until  morning.  I 
fancied  we  should  sit  up  all  night  and  talk  of 
Virginia — that  is  her  name.  Virginia!  I  say 
it  thousands  of  times  each  day.  I  write  it  all 
over  my  papers  if  I  do  not  watch  myself.  I 
tell  you,  she  has  made  me  go  over  many  a 


98  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

page.  I  cannot  trust  myself ;  her  name  creeps 
into  everything.  Oh,  Marius  !  have  you  ever 
been  in  love?  If  you  have  not — you  will  cer 
tainly  think  I  am  crazy." 

Marius  looked  at  him.  The  young  man  had 
forgotten  his  own  confidence  on  the  same  sub 
ject  ;  for  of  all  selfish  things,  youth  is  the 
most  selfish.  Marius  did  not  remind  him  of 
the  circumstance ;  and  he  let  Jack  talk  of  the 
mistress  of  his  heart.  He  described  her 
dresses,  her  attitudes,  and  the  situations  in 
which  he  had  seen  her.  All  her  words  were 
retold,  and  her  smiles  analyzed  and  com 
mented  on.  Marius  listened,  bearing  bravely 
and  silently  the  torture,  just  as  he  would  have 
borne  a  physical  amputation. 

But  it  was  a  great  relief  when  he  persuaded 
Jack  to  lie  down  and  sleep.  Then  he  trailed 
his  weary,  heavy  heart  and  body  up  the  com 
panion-way  to  the  nearly  deserted  deck.  The 
watch  was  forward  ;  he  went  aft,  and  was  alone 
with  his  sorrow.  For  some  time  he  leaned 
over  the  stern  in  a  maze  of  tangled  thought 
and  feeling.  He  could  not  find  a  clew  out  of 
it.  Thought  simply  drifted.  Sorrow  filled 
him  to  the  eyes  and  ears. 

All  his  life  long  he  had  lived  for  others. 
The  wages  of  his  youth,  the  savings  of  his 
manhood,  he  had  given  out  with  both  hands. 
And  money  had  been  the  least  of  his  kindness. 
Love,  free,  full,  self-denying  love,  had  crowned 


LOVE'S  RENUNCIATION.  99 

every  meaner  gift.  As  for  his  brother  Jack, 
he  had  been  the  dearest  of  his  hopes.  He  had 
grudged  him  nothing  of  all  the  joys  and  privi 
leges  his  own  youth  had  missed.  He  loved 
the  lad  with  all  his  soul.  He  was  father  and 
brother  both  to  him.  If  any  other  man  had 
been  his  rival,  he  could  have  borne  it  better. 
It  would  have  been  a  natural  sorrow.  This 
seemed  unnatural,  almost  fratricidal,  in  spite 
of  its  innocent  ignorance  ;  and  he  could  not 
help  reproaching  Fate  with  this  needless  suf 
fering. 

"  It  was  the  very  first  draught  of  purely  per 
sonal  joy  I  ever  had,"  he  said  bitterly  ;  "  and 
Jack,  of  all  men,  takes  the  blessed  cup  from 
my  lips.  It  is  hard  !  It  is  too  hard  to  bear!  " 

And  oh  !  how  bitter  are  those  moments  of 
temptation  when  we  say — "  in  vain  we  have 
been  loving  and  generous  and  self-sacrificing." 
God  has  failed  to  recompense  us,  and  we  have 
a  sense  of  injustice  and  regret  that  we  served 
him.  No  thoughts  are  more  cruel.  They 
touch  the  questions  of  infinity,  and  have  an 
infinite  power  to  make  us  suffer.  The  soul  of 
Marius  Bradford  swelled  to  them,  and,  ere  he 
knew  it,  heavy  tears  dropped  down  into  the 
dark  water  beneath  him. 

But  this  was  a  blessed  rain  ;  it  softened  and 
soothed  his  aching  heart.  Grief  that  had  been 
solid  and  stubborn  ran  into  motion  ;  he  began 
to  pace  the  deck,  and  to  set  his  turbulent 


TOO  SHE   LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

thoughts  in  order.  The  great  dusky  water 
way  behind  and  beneath  him,  the  majestic 
constellations  above,  the  silent  city  before  him, 
all  spoke  a  language  that  he  understood. 
They  hushed  and  quieted  his  heart.  The 
cradling  swell  of  the  water  whispered,  "  Thou 
art  my  son.  Thy  home  is  on  my  breast." 
The  stars  said,  "  O  true  heart !  be  steadfast  in 
duty;  even  we  have  our  courses  and  our 
goings-on,  and  are  obedient  to  His  will." 
And  when  he  turned  to  the  dreaming  city,  he 
thought  of  one  of  its  homes  as  of  a  holy  shrine. 
The  sleeping  woman  in  it  lay  like  a  spotless 
lily  in  his  memory.  God  had  made  nothing 
fairer,  sweeter,  purer.  Involuntarily  he  bared 
his  head  as  he  whispered  her  name. 

Was  there  anything  he  would  not  do  to 
make  her  happy?  If  she  was  in  danger,  would 
he  not  die  smilingly  if  he  could  save  her?  If 
she  was  perishing  of  thirst,  would  he  not 
gladly  take  the  water  from  his  own  lips  that 
she  might  drink  ?  Well,  then,  here  was  a 
strait  no  way  different.  Jack  was  younger, 
handsomer,  every  way  more  desirable  than  he 
was.  Yes ;  he  must  stand  aside,  and  give 
Jack  a  fair  chance.  "  I  can  be  a  good  brother 
to  her,"  he  whispered.  "  God  help  me !  God 
help  me  !  " 

So  he  passed  the  night  in  renunciation,  and 
in  such  prayer  as  leaps  from  the  soul  as  fire 
leaps  from  the  beaten  iron.  When  the  day 


LOVE'S  RENUNCIATION.  lot 

dawned,  he  had  grasped  the  strength  of  the 
conflict.  He  was  able  to  meet  his  brother, 
and  to  look  with  a  brave  and  honest  kindness 
in  his  face  ;  able  to  say  : 

"  I  did  not  tell  you  last  night,  Jack,  that  I 
had  a  small  parcel  for  Miss  Mason — a  couple 
of  yards  of  silk  she  made  a  mistake  about.  I 
wish  you  would  take  them  to  her." 

"  You  know  I  will  be  delighted,  Marius." 

"  My  rough  voyage  has  belated  me.  I  shall 
be  busy  enough  to  get  ready  for  sailing  time. 
Give  my  respects  to  the  young  lady,  and  also 
to  Major  Mason — that  is,  if  they  care  for 
them  ;  but  the  captain,  though  a  great  man  at 
sea,  is  nobody  on  shore." 

"  Who  would  wish  to  forget  you  that  had 
ever  sailed  with  you,  Marius  ?  Where  is  the 
parcel  ?  Get  it  for  me.  I  am  grateful  for  any 
excuse  to  ask  for  Miss  Mason." 

With  the  silk  in  his  hand  he  gayly  left  the 
ship,  and  at  the  noon  hour  hastened  up  Broad 
way  on  his  pleasant  errand.  Some  left-handed 
influence  was  perhaps  offended  at  his  radiant 
face,  his  happy  step,  his  general  air  of  satisfac 
tion,  for  when  he  arrived  at  his  destination  he 
found  Miss  Mason  from  home  ;  and  was  further 
defrauded  by  a  self-complacent  servant,  who 
said,  with  an  air  of  knowledge,  that  he  had  "  bet- 
ter  leave  the  parcel,"  and  this  advice  he  had  not 
the  courage  to  neglect. 

He  turned  slowly  away,  irresolute  and  angry, 


102  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

and  went  northward  instead  of  southward.  He 
was  not  only  disappointed,  he  was  very  much 
chagrined  ;  and  his  first  impulse  was  to  walk 
away  the  influence  of  the  unpleasant  rencontre. 
He  was  also  aware  of  the  friendship  between 
Virginia  and  Miss  Keteltas,  and  there  was 
doubtless  a  vague  hope  in  his  heart  of  meeting 
her  somewhere  on  the  road  between  the  Mason 
and  Keteltas  houses. 

At  Union  Square  he  saw  an  acquaintance, 
and  stood  talking  with  him  about  the  opening 
up  of  the  streets  running  from  the  Park,  and  the 
iron  fencing  with  which  the  men  under  his  di 
rection  were  inclosing  it.  The  day,  though 
bright,  was  very  cold  ;  and  the  workmen  had 
built  a  fire,  and  were  eating  their  dinners  around 
it ;  some  talking  with  great  vehemence,  others 
smoking  and  listening. 

"  There  is  an  abolitionist  among  them,"  said 
Jack's  friend,  and  he  took  Jack  by  the  arm, 
and  led  him  to  the  excited  group.  A  tall, 
earnest  man  was  in  the  center.  He  had  a  slip 
of  paper  in  his  hand,  with  a  rude  woodcut  on 
it  representing  a  negro  chained  and  under  the 
lash  ;  and  his  thin,  kind  face  was  alight  with 
enthusiasm  as  he  cried  out,  "  I  would  not  o\vn 
a  slave  for  all  the  wealth  that  bought-and-sold 
sinews  ever  earned  !  " 

"  Say,  Mister,"  asked  a  long,  lean  fellow, 
who  had  been  listening  with  impatience,  "why 
don't  they  set  themselves  free  ?  Fifty,  a  hun- 


LOVE'S  RENUNCIATION.  103 

dred,  two  or  three  hundred,  a  thousand  on  a 
plantation,  and  only  one  or  two  oppressors 
over  them  !  Gosh  !  the  meanest  white  men 
that  ever  lifted  spade  or  shovel  would  have 
turned  the  tables  long  ago." 

At  this  point  there  was  the  confused  mur 
mur  of  a  crowd  coming  up  Broadway,  and  the 
little  congregation  in  the  Square  broke  and 
went  toward  it.  The  lecturer,  with  his  hat 
pushed  back  and  a  fine  scorn  in  his  eye,  looked 
after  them  a  moment. 

Jack,  with  his  friend,  followed  the  down 
town  movement.  On  the  high  banks  on  either 
side  of  the  way  little  groups  were  leaning 
against  the  fences  watching.  It  was  only  a 
few  minutes  ere  the  crowd,  with  shouty  and 
singing,  turned  into  Broadway.  Jack  kne-v  th« 
rhyme,  and  lifted  his  voice  with  the  restr 

Ho  !  for  the  Livingston  horse  ! 

Boys,  now  open  your  lips, 
Hats  and  caps  fly  up  like  a  cloud. 
With  hurrah  !  hurrah  !  hurrah  ! 

And  hurrah  for  Eclipse  ! 

Ho  !  for  the  Livingston  horse  ! 

Boys,  now  open  your  lips, 
Hearts  break  out  with  a  mighty  shout, 
With  hurrah  !  hurrah  !  hurrah  ! 

And  hurrah  for  Eclipse  ! 

The  rough  melody  filled  the  clear  air,  and 
the  splendid  animal,  led  by  his  groom,  lifted 
his  head  and  stepped  proudly  to  the  adulation 


104  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

of  his  admirers.  Being  the  noon  resting  hour, 
workmen  from  all  points  lined  Broadway  and 
shouted — "Hurrah!"  and  "Eclipse!"  and 
threw  their  caps  up  to  the  magnificent  crea 
ture. 

They  watched  him  till  his  proud  head  was 
no  longer  visible,  and  then  Jack  bid  his  com 
panion  "  adieu  "  and  hurried  to  his  office. 
The  annoyance,  put  aside  for  half  an  hour, 
returned  with  greater  intensity.  He  longed 
for  night,  that  he  might  go  to  Marius  with  his 
new  trouble  ;  for  he  had  the  lover's  faculty  of 
tormenting  himself,  and  he  felt  sure  that  Vir 
ginia  had  given  orders  to  her  servants  to  deny 
her  to  him. 

On  the  contrary,  Virginia  had  very  regret 
fully  left  her  home  on  a  request  from  Jane 
Keteltas  so  urgent  as  to  force  her  compliance ; 
and  she  did  not  return  to  it  until  the  short 
winter  day  had  nearly  vanished.  As  she 
passed  through  the  hall  a  servant  said,  "  The 
young  gentleman  from  Cruger  &  Cushing's 
brought  a  parcel  here  at  noon,  Miss  Virginia." 

"  Where  is  it  ?  " 

"  I  laid  it  on  the  table  of  the  large  parlor." 

"  Leave  it  there.     I  will  get  it  after  dinner." 

"  More  trouble,"  she  thought.  "  But  noth 
ing  can  be  done  until  to-morrow,  and  why 
bring  to-morrow  into  to-day?" 

She  was  depressed  by  fear,  but  she  made  a 
careful  toilet ;  for  certainly  she  expected 


LOVE'S  RENUNCIATION.  105 

Marius  would  call.  The  "  Arethusa  "  was  in 
port,  and  "  he  is  sure  to  come,  "  she  whispered. 

Major  Mason  was  unusually  cheerful,  and 
during  the  serving  of  dinner  talked  of  the 
President  and  the  Bank  with  a  gentlemanly 
passion  of  enthusiasm.  "  Even  if  Jackson  has 
the  battle  to  fight  single-handed,  he  can  do 
it,"  he  said  admiringly. 

"  Is  it  not  just  possible  that  Jackson  may  be 
wrong  ?  " 

"  Jackson  is  right — constitutionally  right, 
•morally  right." 

"  New  York  is  suffering  dreadfully.  Mr. 
Keteltas  says  he  never  remembers  such  com 
mercial  distress  ;  there  is  almost  a  panic.  He 
thinks  very  ill  of  President  Jackson." 

"  New  York  suffers  nobly.  She  stands  by 
Jackson,  right  or  wrong — I  mean,  in  prosperity 
or  adversity.  As  for  Mr.  Keteltas,  and  men 
like  him,  why  should  they  complain  ?  The 
harder  the  times,  the  more  interest  they  get 
for  loans  and  advances.  All  true  patriots 
.stand  by  the  President.  They  know  he  is 
right.  And  the  opposition  might  as  well  sub 
mit  ;  they  cannot  move  Jackson  by  threats 
of  commercial  ruin  ;  nor  can  he  be  bribed  to 
alter  the  course  he  thinks  for  the  public  good. 
Very  well ;  it  is  the  part  of  good  citizens  to 
waive  their  own  inclinations  and  support  the 
Government." 

The  injustice  of  this  reasoning  was  evident  to 


106  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

Virginia  ;  but  why  should  she  join  the  opposi 
tion  party  ?  It  is  so  easy  and  generally  so  wise 
for  women  to  answer  arguments  with  a  smile 
and  a  little  nod.  To  themselves  it  may  mean 
an  entire  approval  of  their  reserved  opinions ; 
men  generally  accept  it  as  an  approval  of  theirs, 
and  prefer  it  to  either  reason  or  eloquence. 
Major  Mason  thought  his  daughter  sympathetic 
and  sensible  ;  and  he  talked  away  all  the  re 
siduum  of  fret  and  uncertainty  which  his  dis 
putes  with  Mr.  Jay  and  Mr.  Cruger  on  the 
same  subject  had  left  at  the  bottom  of  his 
heart. 

When  they  were  alone  he  turned  at  once  to 
points  more  personal.  "  Why  did  Jane  send 
so  hurriedly  for  you  this  morning  ?  " 

"  There  has  been  a  very  unhappy  dispute 
about  the  wedding  ceremony.  Jane  wishes  to 
be  married  in  Trinity.  Her  father  is  quietly 
in  favor  of  the  old  Middle  Church  ;  and  Nigel 
Forfar  passionately  and  positively  in  favor  of 
it.  He  says  '  he  will  die  a  bachelor  rather  than 
submit  to  Episcopal  mummeries.'  He  declared 
that  it  was  a  point  of  conscience  with  him,  and 
that  'all  the  Forfars  were  firm  as  the  adaman 
tine  hills  upon  points  of  conscience.  If  Jane 
loved  a  mere  ceremony  better  than  him,  she 
must  take  her  choice.' ' 

"  Did  not  the  man  see  he  was  loving  a  mere 
ceremony  better  than  Jane  ?  " 

"  No  one  could  have  made  his  adamantine 


LOVE'S  RENUNCIATION.  107 

conscience  see  anything  so  reasonable.  He 
took  up  Jane's  prayer-book  and  repeated  scorn 
fully  :  '  "  With  this  ring  I  thee  wed."  I  don't 
wed  Jane  with  any  ring,'  he  said.  'The  ring 
is  no  more  to  the  marriage  than  the  seal  ^s  to 
the  letter.  "  With  my  body  I  thee  wors»Jp." 
I  consider  that  idolatry.  "With  all  my  earthly 
goods  I  thee  endow."  I  do  nothing  of  the 
kind.  I  have  made  a  very  handsome  settle 
ment  on  Jane,'  and  then  he  added,  with  a 
peculiar  emphasis,  '  I  am  willing  to  add  to  it 
five  thousand  dollars  if  Jane  will  reasonably 
submit  to  my  will  in  this  matter.'  ' 

"  What  did  Mr.  Keteltas  say  ?  " 

".He  said,  'Go  to  your  room,  Jane,  and 
think  well  about  Nigel's  offer.  I  take  leave  to 
say,  if  Nigel  is  going  to  pay  you  every  time  he 
wants  his  own  way,  he  will  be  a  poor  man,  and 
you  will  be  a  rich  woman,  before  green  barley 
is  ripe  again.'  And  then  he  turned  to  me  and 
added,  '  Virginia,  my  dear,  speak  a  few  sensi 
ble  words  to  a  foolish  young  woman.'  " 

"  And  Mr.  Forfar  ?  " 

"  He  was  silent  ;  but  I  saw  a  queer  smile 
draw  his  mouth  together  when  Mr.  Keteltas 
spoke  of  him  buying  his  own  will;  and  I  ad 
vised  Jane  to  freely  give  up  her  plans,  and  on 
no  account  to  take  money  for  a  right — for  it 
is  her  right  to  choose  the  church  and  the  min 
ister." 

"  Did  she  ?  " 


ic8  SHE  LGVED  A    SAILOR. 

"  She  thought  it  a  triumph  to  make  Nigel 
pay  her.  Jane  is  fond  of  money." 

"  Nigel  had  the  triumph.  She  won  a 
money  victory,  Nigel  a  moral  one.  You  know 
which  is  the  greater." 

"  Then  he  objected  to  a  bridal  veil.  It  was 
English  and  Episcopal  in  its  tendencies;  very 
likely  French  and  papistical.  He  thought 
Jane  ought  to  wear  a  bonnet.  A  most  offen 
sive  man.  I  came  very  near  to  a  quarrel  with 
him  myself." 

"  About  Jane?" 

"  No,  about  Captain  Bradford.  There  was 
a  very  funny  scene.  Jane  has  a  servant  who 
is  a  remarkably  handsome  girl,  from  Yorkshire, 
I  think,  and  she  always  waits  on  the  table. 
To-day,  after  the  dispute,  Mr.  Keteltas  went 
downto  vn,  and  Nigel  went  with  him.  They 
were  delayed,  and  did  not  get  home  till  near 
three  o'clock.  The  dinner  was  ready  at  one, 
and  spoiled  at  three.  Both  men  were  dissatis 
fied.  Forfar  said  '  it  reminded  him  of  the  din 
ners  on  the  'Arethusa';'  and  then  Mr.  Ketel 
tas  remarked  the  '  Arethusa  '  was  in  port  after 
a  very  bad  voyage,  stormy  and  dangerous.  I 
expressed  my  pleasure  at  the  ship's  safety; 
and  Forfar  wished  she  had  gone  to  the  bot 
tom  and  taken  the  Captain  with  her." 

"  What  did  you  say?" 

"  I  had  no  time  to  say  anything.  The  girl, 
Nelly,  who  had  his  plate  full  of  pudding  in  her 


LOVE'S  RENUNCIATION.  109. 

hand,  put  it  down  in  a  passion  at  his  side,  and 
said,  '  Help  thysen,  master.  I'll  not  wait  on 
thee.  Thou  art  a  right  bad  sort,  and  if  I  was 
Miss  Jane,  I'd  think  twice  about  marrying 
thee,  and  be  sure  to  change  my  mind  the 
second  time.  I  would,  I  would  that  !  " 

The  Major  laughed  heartily,  for  Virginia 
imitated  Nelly's  excitement  and  patois  very 
cleverly. 

"  What  did  Forfar  say  ?  " 

"  For  a  moment  he  was  stupefied  by  her  pas 
sion.  Nelly  spoke  with  an  incredible  and  irre 
sistible  eloquence.  No  one  could  stop  her, 
and  indeed  I  think  John  Paul  had  a  great  deal 
to  do  to  prevent  himself  laughing  heartily.  I 
looked  full  at  Nelly  and  smiled  my  approval. 
We  understood  each  other  in  a  moment.  Jane 
rose  and  ordered  Nelly  to  leave  the  room  in 
stantly,  and  with  a  half  sob  Nelly  answered,  '  to 
be  sure,  Miss.  I'll  leave  the  house  too.  I  will 
that.'  " 

"  I  like  that  girl,  Virginia.  I  wish  we  could 
employ  her." 

"  I  like  her  too."  Forfar  pushed  his  pudding 
aside,  and  told  Jane  not  to  worry.  '  She  is  one 
of  those  barbarians  from  Yorkshire,'  he  said, 
scornfully ;  '  they  have  no  manners.'  Nelly 
had  the  door  open  in  her  hand,  and  she  heard 
the  slur  on  her  country.  It  was  not  to  be  en 
dured.  She  turned  and  answered  him : 

"  '  I  have  no  manners,  heven't  I  ?     Thou  art 


no  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

right,  master,  if  ta  means  manners  of  thy 
sort — and  I  don't  want  them  either,  not  I  !  ' 

"  I  wonder  if  the  girl  knows  Captain  Brad 
ford  ?  " 

"  Jane  says  she  came  over  with  him  in  the 
4  Arethusa.'  I  dare  say  he  was  kind  to  her. 
It  would  be  like  him." 

"  Yes,  it  would.  You  say  she  is  hand 
some?" 

"Very." 

On  the  long  and  suggestive  text  supplied 
by  these  incidents  much  conversation  was  pos 
sible  ;  and  the  Major  was  rather  merry  over 
certain  phases  of  it.  But  Virginia,  as  the 
hours  crept  by,  grew  anxious  and  sad,  and 
found  it  difficult  to  continue  the  subject. 
Every  footstep  made  her  heart  beat ;  a  knock 
at  the  door  even  as  late  as  nine  o'clock  roused 
her  dying  hopes.  She  stopped  talking  to 
listen.  Never  had  a  servant  been  so  dilatory 
in  opening  a  door  before.  Then  the  dreadful 
delay  before  the  man  entered.  He  had  a  par 
cel  in  his  hand  which  the  Major  took  with  a 
fresh  interest ;  "  Some  pamphlets  Mr.  Jay  has 
sent  me,"  he  said  to  Virginia  ;  and  she  trem 
bled  and  was  silent.  The  day  was  hopelessly 
over. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

**  WEDDING    AND    THIS    WILL    DO  ;     WEDDING 
AND  WORSE  WILL  NEVER  DO." 

"  To  wear  out  heart  and  nerves  and  brain, 
And  give  ourselves  a  world  of  pain, 
Be  eager,  angry,  fierce,  and  hot, 
Imperious,  supple — God  knows  what  ; 
O,  false,  unwise,  absurd,  and  vain  ! 

Only,  it  is  precisely  this 
That  keeps  us  all  alive." 

"  The  way  of  love  leads  generally  to  marriage." 

IN  the  morning  Virginia  remembered  the 
parcel  brought  by  Cruger  &  Cushing's 
young  gentleman.  She  stood  a  moment  at  the 
door  of  the  large  parlor,  and  then  decided  not 
to  trouble  her  father  with  it  until  after  he  had 
taken  his  breakfast.  "  It  is  always  time 
enough  for  annoyance,  and  I  am  sure  nothing 
else  comes  from  Mr.  Cruger  but  annoyance." 
she  thought.  It  was  a  bitterly  cold  morning^ 
with  a  prospect  of  snow,  and  she  glanced  into 
the  pale,  delicate  face  of  her  father  with  some 
anxiety.  He  had  drawn  his  chair  very  close  to 
the  fire,  and  was  looking  over  the  new  penny 
paper  called  the  "  Sun." 

"  It  is    really  wonderful,  Virginia,"  he  said 


H2  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

laying  it  across  his  knees,  as  she  came  to  him 
*'  Every  poor    man    can   no\v    have    his    news- 
•  paper." 

"  How  can  a  penny  paper  pay,  father  ?  " 

"  Because  it  is  creating  for  itself  a  vast 
patronage  among  a  class  who  have  hitherto 
considered  newspapers  a  luxury.  Mr.  Hoe 
has  begun  to  make  his  fortune." 

"  I  am  glad  some  one  is  making  money.  I 
think  I  never  before  heard  of  so  much  trouble 
about  money.  Coffee  is  ready  now,  sir." 

"  Have  the  table  drawn  close  to  the  fire, 
Virginia.  It  is  a  dreadful  morning.  Hard 
holidays,  I  fear,  between  the  scarcity  of  money 
and  the  severe  weather.  Did  I  tell  you  I  saw 
Dr.  Wainwright  yesterday  ?  He  has  really 
given  up  Grace  Church,  and  is  going  to  Bos 
ton." 

"  I  am  very  sorry." 

"  Mr.  Cooper  joined  us  as  we  were  talking." 

"  The  novelist  ?     Is  he  back  from  Europe  ?  " 

"  A  month  ago." 

"  It  was  supposed  that  he  found  it  so 
superior  to  America  that  he  would  not  return 
to  our  Western  barbarism." 

"  Perhaps  the  papers  are  unjust  to  him. 
They  would  persuade  us  that  his  value  of  him 
self  and  his  work  is  beyond  all  bounds.  To 
me  he  appears  a  sensible  gentleman." 

"  Mr.  Cruger  sent  young  Rhea  with  a  parcel 
here  yesterday  ;  at  least  I  suppose  it  was  Mr. 


-WEDDING  AND    THIS    WILL  DO."        11$ 

Rhea.  I  did  not  give  it  to  you  last  night,  be 
cause  I  feared  there  would  be  annoyance  in  it ; 
and  it  was  too  late  to  interfere  in  any  business 
matter.  It  will  do  after  we  have  break 
fasted?  " 

"Yes.  Thank  you  for  being  so  thoughtful, 
Virginia.  I  dare  say  it  is  the  papers  relating 
to  a  mortgage  I  have  been  compelled  to  ar 
range.  I  have  lost  more  than  twenty  thousand 
dollars  during  the  last  sixty  days." 

"  Father  !     How  has  that  happened  ?  " 

"  Fall  of  stocks,  my  dear.  Delaware  &  Hud 
son  Canal  Company,  and  Boston  &  Providence 
Railroad  Company.  My  share  of  Nicholas 
Biddle's  plutocracy." 

"  Of  President  Jackson's  injustice  and  ill- 
wili  and " 

"  Of  President  Jackson's  patriotism,  Virginia. 
I  have  received  good  at  the  hands  of  my 
country,  shall  I  not  also  receive  evil,  if  my  loss 
means  my  country's  gain  ?  No  one  likes  to 
lose  money,  but  better  lose  money  than  lose 
principle  and  honor  and  the  general  freedom 
of  the  citizen.  I  have  counted  the  cost,  Vir 
ginia.  I  am  with  Jackson  in  his  quarrel  with 
the  Bank." 

"  I  think  Jackson  is  a  tyrannical  autocrat." 

"  It  takes  one  autocrat  to  put  down  another. 
And  the  most  cruel  and  degrading  of  all  tyran 
nies  is  that  of  money  power.  It  has  neither 
heart  nor  intellect.  It  is  simply  brutalizing, 


H4  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 


if  it  came  to  a  fight  on  that  subject,  I 
\vt>uld  draw  my  sword  and  die  cheerfully  to 
free  America  from  the  worst  of  all  slaveries. 
Indeed,  it  passes  my  comprehension  that  men 
should  be  crying  out  against  the  slavery  of  the 
negro,  and  not  see  and  feel  the  golden  gyves 
of  Nicholas  Biddle's  Bank." 

"  Can  we  ever  get  away  from  that  subject  ? 
Everything  we  name  turns  to  it.  I  heard 
some  children  on  the  street  talking  about  it 
yesterday." 

"  Every  man,  woman,  and  child  feels  the 
pinch  of  the  Bank's  cruel,  greedy  fingers.  St. 
Nicholas  will  buy  few  presents  for  his  children 
this  year;  Nicholas  Biddle  has  stolen  his 
purse.  How  cold  it  is  !  Some  points  below 
zero,  I  am  sure." 

He  turned  his  face  to  the  blaze,  and  sipped 
his  coffee  thoughtfully,  until  Virginia  rose. 

"  Ring  for  the  parcel  now,  Virginia.  There 
may  be  a  letter  of  importance  in  it." 

When  the  servant  entered  the  room,  Vir 
ginia  left  it.  A  pitiful  delicacy  led  her  to  be 
lieve  that  her  father  would  prefer  meeting 
anything  unpleasant  alone.  He  knew  he  was 
sure  of  her  sympathy  when  he  was  ready  for 
it.  She  went  to  the  housekeeper  with  some 
directions  about  warming  the  parlors,  and  then 
listened  patiently  to  her  complaints  of  the 
servants,  and  of  the  cold  weather  and  hard 
times.  But  all  through  the  old  lady's  babble, 


"WEDDING  AND    THIS    WILL   DO."        115 

her  heart  was  aching  with  her  own  disappoint 
ment  and  her  father's  anxieties. 

In  about  an  hour  he  called  for  her.  When 
she  entered  the  room  the  pink  silk  lay  in  the 
center  of  the  table.  A  band  of  wintry  sun 
shine  crossed  it  and  the  paper  wrappings  in 
which  it  had  been  brought,  but  in  spite  of 
this,  it  had  a  neglected  and  unwelcome  air. 

She  went  straight  to  it,  and  lifted  its  glis 
tening  folds.  "  Was  this  the  contents  of  the 
parcel,  father  ?  And  pray,  why  did  Mr.  Rhea 
bring  it  ?  " 

"  How  can  I  tell,  Virginia  ?  Martin  brought 
it  to  me.  I  expected  papers,  and  I  found  silk." 

She  was  heartsick,  but  anger  was  gathering, 
and  it  gave  her  a  fictitious  strength.  With 
visible  chagrin  she  turned  over  and  over  the 
wrapping  it  had  come  in — perhaps  there  had 
been  a  note  or  message  inside.  But  there  was 
nothing  at  all  to  identify  the  silk  as  hers  but 
the  name  of  the  Liverpool  house  on  the  out 
side  cover.  She  rang  the  bell  impetuously, 
and  when  Martin  answered  its  call  she  ques 
tioned  him  closely  concerning  it. 

"  Who  brought  this  parcel  ?  " 

"  The  young  gentleman  from  Mr.  Cruger's 
office." 

"Mr.  Rhea?" 

"  Yes,  Miss." 

"  Then  give  him  his  proper  name  in  future. 
What  did  he  say?  Tell  me  the  exact  words." 


n6  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

"When  I  opened  the  door  he  said,  '  Is  Miss 
Mason  in?'  I  said,  '  No,  you  wasn't  in,'  Miss, 
*and  I  didn't  think  you  would  be  in  until 
late.' " 

"  You  had  no  authority  to  say  that.  What 
else?" 

"  I  said  if  the  parcel  was  for  you,  he  had 
better  leave  it.  He  gave  it  to  me,  and  went 
away." 

"Did  he  say  from  whom  he  received  the 
parcel  ?" 

"  No,  Miss." 

"  Did  he  leave  any  message  ?  '* 

"  No,  Miss." 

"  What  time  was  he  here  ?  " 

•"  Between  twelve  and  one  o'clock." 

"  You  were  eating  your  dinner?" 

"  Yes,  Miss." 

"  And  in  too  great  hurry  to  give  Mr.  Rhea 
time  to  explain  anything.  That  will  do." 

As  the  door  closed  she  turned  to  her  father: 
"  How  did  Mr.  Rhea  get  the  parcel,  do  you 
think?" 

"  Indeed,  Virginia,  I  cannot  imagine.  Does 
it  matter  ?  Perhaps  some  friend  of  the  firm 
was  on  board  the  '  Arethusa,'  and  he  was  sent 
to  assist  them  in  disembarking.  Did  you  give 
Captain  Bradford  the  money  to  pay  for  the 
silk?" 

"  I  never  thought  of  such  a  thing." 

"  Very   woman-like.      But   the   silk    mercer 


"WEDDING  AND    THIS    WILL   DO"       1 1? 

would  think  of  it,  and  Captain  Bradford  doubt 
less  paid  the  price.  He  is  just  the  man  who 
would  send  the  silk  by  a  strange  hand,  lest 
you  should  think,  if  he  brought  it  himself,  he 
wanted  the  money  refunded.  Don't  you  un 
derstand  this?" 

"  I  don't  know." 

"  How  much  are  you  owing  for  it  ?  " 

"  A  sovereign." 

"  I  will  send  it  to  the  «  Arethusa.'  " 

"  Oh,  I  do  not  think  I  would — just  yet.  It 
feels  vulgar  to  do  a  thing  like  that." 

"  To  pay  what  you  owe  ?  " 

"  This  is  different  ;  it  was  a  favor.  If  you 
send  the  money,  it  is  like  saying,  '  Much 
obliged,  and  now  we  are  clear  of  each  other.'  ' 

c>  * 

"  Well  ?     Is  not  that  about  right  ?  " 

"  I  suppose  so.  No,  I  do  not  think  it  is.  I 
think  Captain  Bradford  would  rather  have 
thanks  than  money.  Perhaps  he  may  call. 
If  not " 

"  I  shall  send  the  money." 

"  When  you  are  next  at  Mr.  Cruger's,  you 
will  doubtless  see  Mr.  Rhea.  Ask  him  how  he 
got  the  silk?  Are  you  going  out  to-day?" 

"  Not  unless  I  am  compelled  to  go  out.  It 
is  too  cold  to  leave  the  fire." 

She  lifted  the  silk,  then,  and  left  the  room. 
It  hurt  her  sight;  it  hurt  her  touch.  She 
flung  it  on  her  bed,  and  fell  down  weeping 
beside  it. 


ll8  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

"  He  might  have  brought  it !  "  she  sobbed. 
"  He  said  he  would  bring  it.  He  said  so  much 
to  me — so  much  that  words  could  never  say. 
And  I  believed  his  eyes !  I  thought  I  saw 
a  true  soul  through  them.  Oh,  Marius !  Ma- 
rius  !  you  have  broken  my  heart  in  two." 

She  really  felt  at  the  moment  as  if  the  exag 
geration  was  the  fact.  A  crushing  disappoint 
ment  overwhelmed  her.  Until  that  hour  she 
had  not  understood  how  completely  Marius 
had  taken  possession  of  her  heart.  The  loss 
of  money — the  private  grief  of  her  father — the 
puplic  distress — none  of  these  things  were 
remembered  in  the  passionate  sorrow  whose 
waves  and  billows  went  over  her. 

For  the  first  great  grief  of  womanhood  had 
found  her  out.  And  the  bitter  grapes  of  this, 
hard  harvest  the  noblest  women  press  out 
alone.  The  idea  of  sympathy  or  of  consolation 
never  came  to  Virginia.  The  trial  was  one  to- 
be  buried  in  her  heart,  though  it  wounded  'it 
with  every  breath  she  drew.  A  wounded 
heart!  Oh,  cruel  words!  full  of  a  terrible 
significance  to  thousands  who  endure  and  hide 
endurance  behind  smiles. 

A  kind  of  resentment  succeeded  her  grief. 
She  rose  up  and  washed  her  face,  and  walked 
swiftly  about  the  room,  murmuring,  "  Oh,  if 
the  past  were  only  mine  !  Three  weeks  I 
would  wipe  out  forever !  I  would  forget  abso 
lutely  the  '  Arethusa.'  I  would  forget  for- 


''WEDDING  AND    THIS    WILL  DO."          119 

ever  "— she  could  not  utter  the  name  of  the 
man  she  would  forget.  There  was  still  hope 
at  the  bottom  of  her  heart. 

The  feeling  was  not  peculiar  to  Virginia. 
Most  people  have  had  at  some  period  of  their 
life  this  insane  desire  to  rob  the  Past.  They 
have  wished  to  annihilate  certain  events  in 
their  career,  being  sure  that  they  could  only 
bring  forth  sorrow.  Let  us  be  very  thankful 
that  the  Past  is  as  unattainable  to  us  as  the 
Future.  If  it  were  not,  we  should  recklessly 
Tob  it  ;  and  in  so  doing,  impoverish  the  whole 
of  our  future  life. 

Because  our  knowledge  is  so  small !  our  vis 
ion  is  so  short !  our  faith  is  so  weak  !  If  Vir 
ginia  had  only  'known !  If  she  could  have 
seen  !  If  her  faith,  even  in  herself  and  her  own 
pure  intuitions,  had  been  stronger!  Then  her 
grief  would  have  been  altered  both  in  its  direc 
tion  and  its  intensity.  For,  whatever  her  dis 
appointment  and  suffering,  that  of  Marius  was 
far  greater. 

It  would  have  seemed  as  if  the  United  States 
Bank  could  hardly  interfere  in  Captain  Brad 
ford's  secret  love  affair;  but  it  did.  As  soon 
as  Jack  had  returned  to  his  office  after  his  un 
fortunate  delivery  of  his  brother's  message,  he 
received  orders  to  leave  at  once  for  Philadel 
phia.  For  he  filled  the  post  of  confidential 
clerk,  and  the  great  law  firm  had  some  papers 
containing  Htollisfence  to  send  to  Mr.  Biddle. 


120  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

Jack  had  no  time  even  to  write  to  his  brother. 
Indeed,  a  letter  never  struck  him  as  at  all 
necessary.  Marius  had  sent  a  little  silk  to 
Miss  Mason,  and  Jack  never  supposed  that  his 
brother  had  any  interest  in  it  beyond  its  safe 
delivery.  Miss  Mason  was  a  strictly  personal 
subject  in  Jack's  thoughts ;  that  Marius  was  in 
love  with  her  was  a  supposition  that  simply 
never  entered  Jack's  mind. 

When  he  had  finished  his  business  in  Phila 
delphia  he  thought  of  writing;  but  he  re 
flected  that  he  would  probably  be  back  in 
New  York  as  soon  as  a  letter,  and  he  aban 
doned  the  idea.  After  all,  if  he  had  written 
he  might  never  have  named  the  silk.  It  had 
failed  as  far  as  he  was  concerned,  and  he  at 
tached  no  further  importance  to  it.  But 
Marius  carried  that  parcel  on  his  heart  night 
and  day.  He  imagined  Jack's  giving  it  to 
her.  He  imagined  her  pretty  pleasure  in  the 
perfect  match ;  her  pretty  surprise  in  discov 
ering  that  Jack  was  his  brother.  He  himself 
was  very  proud  of  the  handsome  youth  ;  and 
he  mentally  contrasted  Jack's  elegance  and 
fashionable  appearance  with  the  rougher  type 
of  his  own  manhood.  Yes,  and  he  did  Vir 
ginia  the  injustice  to  believe  that  she  would 
prefer  Jack  to  himself. 

He  was  quite  sure  Jack  would  come  to  the 
ship  and  take  his  tea  with  him.  The  day  was 
a  hard  one.  They  were  putting  in  cargo,  and 


"WEDDING  AND    THIS    WILL   DO."          121 

he  was  blown  about  by  the  icy  wind  coming 
down  the  Hudson  ;  but  he  put  off  his  tea  hour 
to  the  time  Jack  usually  reached  him.  Of 
course  Jack  disappointed  him ;  and  Marius 
felt  his  absence  to  be  specially  cruel.  "  He 
was  afraid  of  the  cold,  I  suppose,"  he  said 
bitterly  to  himself ;  "  or  perhaps  she  asked  him 
to  spend  the  evening  with  her."  He  drank 
his  solitary  tea  gloomily  to  the  thought.  But  a 
kinder  one  came  as  he  sat  in  the  midst  of  his 
Indian  incense.  "  I  gave  my  chance  to  Jack, 
•and  I  must  not  grumble  if  he  makes  the  most 
of  it.  He  ought  to  do  so  ;  if  he  did  not,  J 
would  think  little  of  him." 

But  as  day  after  day  passed,  and  Jack  did 
not  come  near  the  ship,  his  anger  gathered.; 
for  he  did  not  always  remember  to  tell  himself 
that  Jack  was  ignorant  both  of  his  self-denial 
and  his  suffering ;  th%  self-denial  and  suffering 
being  real  things,  and  Jack's  ignorance  of  them 
requiring  a  conscious  effort  to  grasp.  But  he 
was  too  busy,  and  perhaps  too  angry,  to  make 
inquiries,  and  the  "  Arethusa "  was  on  the 
point  of  sailing  when  Jack,  out  of  breath  with 
his  rapid  running,  stood  at  last  by  the  side  of 
his  brother.  For  a  moment  Marius  refused  to 
see  him.  He  was  heartsore,  and  not  skilled  in 
hiding  any  feeling  by  which  he  was  possessed. 

"  I  was  terrified  lest  you  might  have  sailed 
before  I  got  here  !  " 

"  You  ?     At  last  ?  " 


122  SHE   LOVED   A    SAILOR, 

"  I  have  been  to  Philadelphia.  I  left  a  few 
hours  after  I  last  saw  you." 

Then  Marius  looked  in  the  flushed  face  of 
the  speaker  and  smiled  faintly.  "  You  ought 
to  have  sent  me  word,  Jack." 

'I  wen*-  in  such  a  hurry,  and  I  thought " 

"  Never  mind.  The  silk  ?  Did  you  give  it 
to  Miss  Mason?  " 

"  I  had  the  worst  luck.  I  went  at  noon  with 
it,  and  she  was  out  " 

"  Then  you  have  it  yet.  She  must  think  me 
a  precious  liar.  I  promised  to  bring  it  with 
me.  She  has  been  expecting  it  for  nearly  a 
week.  It  is  too  bad,  Jack." 

"  She  has  the  silk.  A  servant  took  it  from 
me,  and  of  course  he  gave  it  to  her  that  day." 

"  You  let  a  servant  take  it  to  her?  Jack,  I 
am  ashamed  of  you." 

"  Don't  look  so  blacW*  Marius.  I  was  too 
dashed  to  have  wit  enough  at  the  time  to 
keep  my  introduction  until  a  more  favorable 
hour.  But  I  fully  intended  to  go  to  Mr. 
Mason's  that  night,  ask  to  see  Miss — Virginia, 
give  your  message,  and  inquire  as  to  the  fate 
of  the  parcel  left.  But  it  was  Philadelphia  for 
me  instead.  I  am  just  home.  Of  course  you 
were  my  first  thought." 

The  eager,  loving  words  went  straight  to 
the  wounded  heart  of  Marius.  He  put  his 
hand  upon  Jack's  shoulder  and  said  : 

"  Well,  well,  I  dare  say  it  is  all  right.     She 


"WEDDING  AND    THIS    WILL  DO."          1*3 

has  the  silk,  and  she  would  care  very  little 
whose  hand  brought  it.  I  would  not  trouble 
her  again.  It  will  look  as  if  we  wanted  her 
either  to  say  'thank  you'  or  to  pay  the 
money.  When  a  thing  begins  unluckily,  let  it 
alone,  Jack.  Now,  my  dear  boy,  we  must  say 
'  good-by  '  again.  They  are  for  the  anchor,  it 
will  soon  be  a-trip.  God  bless  you  !  Be  good, 
Jack."  He  rubbed  his  brown  cheek  against 
the  young  fresh  one  so  dear  to  him  ;  and  then 
turned  away  with  a  shout  and  a  sharp  order  to 
the  boatswain  that  rung  along  the  ship  like  a 
trumpet. 

A  snowstorm  was  just  beginning,  and  Jack 
stood  on  the  cold,  windy  slip,  and  watched 
the  "  Arethusa"  spread  her  sails  and  fill  them 
with  the  strong  west  wind.  They  looked 
ghastly  white  between  the  black  water  and 
the  heavy  sky.  The  men  moved  about  ?.i  the 
driving  flakes,  blown  hither  and  thither,  and 
were  like  men  in  some  awful  prison-house. 
But  Jack's  gaze  hardly  took  in  their  unreality ; 
it  was  fixed  upon  the  man  wrapped  in  a  pilot 
coat,  whose  voice  penetrated  the  misty  space, 
and  whose  brown  radiating  countenance  was 
firmly  gazing  out  toward  the  stormy  ocean. 

"  He  looks  like  a  king,"  thought  Jack  ;  "  and 
the  gleam  of  the  gold  band  round  his  cap 
might  be  his  crown." 

Marius  was  glad  to  face  the  sea  again  ;  glad 
to  feel  the  strong  wind  blowing,  and  to  know 


124  SHE  LOVED   A    SAILOF. 

that  he  would  have  to  pitch  his  skill  and  his 
stanch  ship  against  the  blind,  blustering  forces 
of  nature.  His  spirit  rose  to  the  struggle. 
He  forgot  Virginia  and  all  his  chagrin  and 
heart-longing  and  heart-aching.  He  had  fifty 
lives  and  a  valuable  cargo  in  his  keeping,  and 
as  the  wind  howled  louder,  and  the  waves  rose 
in  billowy  mountains  around  the  "Arethusa," 
his  spirits  rose  with  them  ;  he  was  gay  as  a 
bridegroom.  The  ship  felt  his  influence,  the 
sailors  caught  his  mood,  every  quick  order  met 
a  ready  "  Aye,  aye,  sir  !  "  Hurrying  footsteps, 
passing  words,  rattle  of  shifting  chains  and 
blowing  sails,  all  the  bluster  of  nature,  all  the 
shrill  minor  notes  of  human  struggle  and  defi 
ance,  had  in  them  tones  which  set  the  Cap 
tain's  heart  beating  to  an  heroic  measure. 

For  two  days  and  nights  he  had  little  space 
for  dreams  of  love.  Its  soft  relaxing  reveries 
were  impossible  in  the  tumult  of  the  storm. 
When  a  thought  of  Virginia  came,  it  was 
usually  with  the  shipping  of  a  wave,  or  the 
rending  of  a  sail,  or  the  breaking  of  a  spar,  and 
it  took  to  itself  some  of  the  quick  strength  of 
its  environment — a  momentary  memory  of  a 
fair,  sweet  face  that  always  brought  a  fervent 
"  God  bless  her  !  "  from  his  lips,  and  a  turning 
with  a  new  strength  to  his  duty. 

Somehow,  as  he  sailed  away  from  her,  he 
felt  her  closer  to  him.  He  did  not  know  that 
her  soul  was  pursuing  him  with  prayers  and 


"WEDDING  AND    THIS    WILL   DO"          125 

loving  longings.  But,  oh!  how  many  of  our 
comforts  spring  from  unknown  sources  !  The 
prayer  we  are  ignorant  of  has  sent  our  angel  to 
strengthen  us ;  the  love  we  have  forgotten 
goes  before,  surrounds,  and  pervades  us  with 
its  comforting  atmosphere.  We  cannot  escape 
soul  influence  ;  good  or  bad,  the  circumference 
of  the  earth  will  not  prevent  this  force  from 
tending  to  that  point  to  which  its  aspirations, 
its  hopes,  its  love  or  its  hatred  attract  it. 

And  Virginia's  soul  kept  a  constant  care  and 
prayer  for  her  sailor  lover.  She  watched  daily, 
hourly,  for  some  news  from  him,  until  she 
knew  the  "  Arethusa  "  was  out  at  sea  ;  and 
then  she  settled  herself  in  a  firm  conviction  of 
his  truth  and  honor.  Circumstances  might 
accuse  him,  but  the  diviner  within  told  her 
Marius  was  everything  she  believed  him  to  be. 
Unfortunately,  Jack's  absence  delayed  an 
opportunity  for  explanation,  and  when  he 
returned,  the  business  which  had  taken  the 
Major  so  often  to  Cruger's,  and  Jack  so  often 
to  the  Mason  house,  was  completed. 

During  this  interval  Virginia  hoped  every 
evening  to  hear  something  about  Mr.  Rhea 
and  the  parcel ;  but  the  circumstance  appeared 
to  have  passed  beyond  hope  of  further  men- 
tion.  It  was  not  until  the  morning  of  Jane's 
wedding  that  any  reference  was  made  to  it. 
This  was  in  the  middle  of  the  festival  week 
between  Christmas  and  the  New  Year.  But 


126  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

there  was  little  of  the  air  of  festivity  about  the 
time.  The  weather  was  cruelly  cold  ;  the  city 
miserably  anxious  and  depressed.  Everything 
was  uncertain  and  hopeless.  But  marrying 
and  dying  go  on  though  the  heavens  fall ;  and 
Jane  and  Forfar,  in  the  importance  of  their 
personal  affairs,  scarce  gave  a  thought  to  pub 
lic  grievance.  The  twenty-ninth  of  December 
was  their  bridal  day,  and  the  earth  moved  on 
its  axis  specially  for  that  event 

It  was  one  of  the  coldest  and  dreariest  of 
days  and  Major  Mason  shivered  anticipatively 
as  he  looked  into  the  snow-bound  street  and  at 
the  low  thermometer.  About  ten  o'clock  Vir 
ginia  came  down  dressed  for  the  ceremony. 
She  wore  a  gown  of  pink  silk,  and  a  large  cloak 
of  minever  lined  with  pink  silk,  and  fastened 
at  the  throat  with  a  handsome  silver  clasp. 
The  Major  looked  with  admiration  at  his  beau 
tiful  daughter,  and  as  he  put  on  his  gloves  said  : 

"  So  that  is  the  dress  for  which  Captain 
Bradford  brought  you  some  silk  ?  It  is  very 
pretty.  Did  I  tell  you  that  I  had  paid  for  the 
silk  ?  You  may  wear  it  with  perfect  satisfac 
tion." 

"  You  did  not  tell  me,  father.  Whom  did 
you  pay  ?  " 

"  I  was  in  Cruger's  last  Monday,  and  I  saw 
young  Rhea  writing  at  his  desk.  He  looked 
at  me  when  I  entered,  and  smiled  very  pleas 
antly  ;  and  I  thought  perhaps  he  wished  to 


-IV ED  DING  AXD    THIS    WILL   DO."          12? 

remind  me  of  the  silk;  you  see,  he  may  have 
paid  Captain  Bradford  for  it.  Mr.  Cruger  and 
I  had  a  few  words  about  some  stock,  and  I 
was  a  little  ill-tempered,  or  I  should  have 
asked  him  a  few  questions." 

"  Did  you  not  ask  him  how  he  got  the 
silk?" 

"  No  ;  as  I  told  you,  I  was  annoyed  at  Mr. 
Cruger,  and  when  I  passed  through  the  outer 
office  Rhea  lifted  his  eyes  to  me  again.  It 
nettled  me  at  the  moment.  I  felt  as  if  he  was 
dunning  me,  and  I  took  a  ten-dollar  piece 
from  my  purse,  and  laid  it  down  beside  him. 
He  looked  astonished,  and  I  said,  '  Give  it 
with  Miss  Mason's  and  my  own  respects  to 
Captain  Bradford.  It  is  the  price  of  the  silk  he 
bought  in  Liverpool  for  Miss  Mason.'  He  still 
looked  amazed,  and  I  continued,  '  I  suppose 
Captain  Bradford  gave  you  the  silk?'  He 
said,  '  Yes,  sir,'  and  I  added,  '  All  right,  then  ! 
Can  you  give  him  the  money,  or  will  it  be  an 
inconvenience?'  He  said  it  would  be  no  in 
convenience,  and  so  I  left  it  with  him." 

"  I  wish  you  had  not.  Oh,  father!  I  fear 
you  have  done  something  unkind." 

"  How  ?  How  ?  Nonsense  !  You  could  not 
permit  yourself  to  owe  Captain  Bradford  a 
sovereign." 

"  I  feel  that  too.  But  I  think  one  of  us 
ought  to  have  personally  acknowledged  and 
paid  the  debt." 


t-s-5  SHE   LOl'ED   A    SAILOA. 

"  Out  of  the  question.  He  woulci  never  ex 
pect  such  a  thing — especially  this  dreadful 
weather."  But  the  Major  was  again  irritated 
by  the  circumstance,  and  a  sudden  suspicious 
thought  made  him  glance  inquisitively  at  his 
daughter.  In  this  querulous,  unhappy  mood 
they  started  for  Jane's  wedding. 

In  spite  of  the  chill  and  the  gloomy  sur 
roundings  the  bride  was  exceedingly  lovely. 
Her  simple  dress  of  white  satin  was  clasped 
and  buttoned  with  Roman  cameos.  Her  fair 
hair  was  braided  down  her  face,  and  a  long 
veil  of  silver  tulle  covered  it  ;  and  from  her 
brow  and  throat  crescents  made  of  jewels  of 
great  value  depended.  She  was  exceedingly 
proud  of  the  latter  ornaments,  and  she  made 
Virginia  carefully  examine  them 

"  They  are  Nigel's  bridal  gift,"  she  said, 
with  a  trembling  delight.  "  He  gave  them  to 
me  last  night.  They  were  bought  at  Bapst's 
in  Paris.  He  is  a  jeweler  to  the  Crown,  you 
know.  These  are  Indian  table-diamonds,  and 
Nigel  says  the  crescents  were  originally  made 
for  Hortense  Beauharnais,  by  Bonaparte's 
order.  Queen  Hortense  sold  them  last  year 
when  she  was  in  Paris  very  poor,  and  M. 
Bapst  bought  them — for  me,  as  it  appears.  Is 
it  not  singular?  Nigel  says  the  moment  he 
saw  them  he  thought  of  them  as  my  bridal 
present." 

"  But  he  had  not  seen  you  then  ?" 


"UT.DDIXG   AND    THIS    WILL   DO"          129 

"  Oh,  but  his  father  had  talked  to  him  about 
me !  He  says  he  has  always  looked  upon  me 
as  his  wife ;  ever  since  he  was  a  boy.  Isn't  it 
romantic?  " 

"  My  dear  Jane,  very  romantic.  But  you 
must  take  a  warm  cloak  ;  it  is  a  miserably  cold 
morning,  and  I  hope  the  church  will  be  well 
warmed." 

"  I  am  in  a  fever,  I  think.  I  do  not  feel  the 
cold.  The  church  will  be  warmed,  no  doubt." 

On  the  contrary,  the  church  was  cold  and 
dreary  as  a  vault ;  and  the  ceremony  was  hur 
ried  through  as  quickly  as  possible.  The  guests 
shivered,  and  the  only  cheery  persons  present 
were  Virginia  and  young  Harry  Keteltas,  who 
had  left  his  studies,  and  was  in  an  irrepressibly 
good  humor,  and  disposed  to  make  merry  over 
the  event.  But  the  wedding  breakfast  was  not 
a  joyous  feast,  in  spite  of  all  attempts  to  be 
lieve  it  so  ;  because  the  only  people  who  really 
had  any  interest  in  its  success,  preferred  to 
keep  their  own  joy  quite  outside  its  participa 
tion.  Forfar,  indeed,  resented  the  intrusion  of 
so  many  strangers  into  his  happiness  ;  and  Jane 
at  this  period  of  her  life  was  but  an  echo  of  all 
Forfar's  opinions. 

At  three  o'clock  the  bride  and  bridegoom 
began  their  life  journey  together.  Jane 
waved  her  hand  to  her  father  and  brother  and 
friend  ;  Nigel  lifted  his  hat,  and  in  a  few  mo 
ments  the  past  was  all  past  and  out  of  sight. 


13°  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

Keteltas  turned  in  from  the  door  with  a  sigh, 
and  the  company  followed  him. 

But  the  depression  was  greater  now  than 
ever,  and  the  wedding  guests  departed  very 
quickly.  John  Paul  was  glad  when  they  left 
him  alone  with  his  son  and  his  pipe.  It  was 
only  to  Virginia  he  said,  "  Come  and  see  me 
soon,  my  dear.  I  want  to  talk  to  .you." 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

LOVE  AND  LIGHT  WILL  NOT  HIDE 

"  For  loyalty  is  still  the  same, 
Whether  it  win  or  lose  the  game  ; 
True  as  the  dial  to  the  sun, 
Although  it  be  not  shined  upoa. 

"  My  mind  on  its  own  center  stands  unmoved, 
And  stable  as  the  fabric  of  the  soul 
Propt  on  itself. " 

year  1834  inaugurated  in  most  New 
1  York  families  an  era  of  economy  and  cur- 
tailment.  The  Masons  had  been  aware  of  ths 
necessity  for  some  time,  and  had  rearranged 
their  household  to  meet  it.  The  two  men- 
servants  who  had  loitered  with  easy  dignity 
about  their  easy  duties,  were  dismissed,  and 
Nelly  Haworth,  the  Yorkshire  girl  who  had  so 
recklessly  thrown  up  her  position  in  the  Ketel- 
ta's  house,  had  cheerfully  agreed  to  perform 
their  duties  for  considerably  less  than  half  their 
wages. 

About  Nellie's  .advent  there  had  been  some 
hesitation  in  Virginia's  mind.  Under  the  in 
fluence  of  anger,  Jane  had  spoken  of  the  girl's 
acquaintance  with  Captain  Bradford  in  dubious 
terms : 

IV 


13*  SUE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

"  Ci  rourse,  Virginia,  you  have  no  necessity 
to  know  anything  about  Nelly's  love  affairs  ; 
they  will  not  interfere  very  much  with  her  daily 
duties,  unless  you  or  the  Major  should  happen 
to  say  a  word  against  Captain  Bradford.' 

""We  are  not  likely  to  do  so,  Jane.  We 
know  nothing  but  good  of  Captain  Bradford." 

"  Perhaps  you  do  not  know  as  much  as 
•others  do.  It  is  most  certain  that  Nelly 
spends  every  spare  hour  she  has  in  knitting 
things  for  his  comfort,  and  on  his  last  voyage 
the  '  Arethusa  '  was  no  sooner  at  her  pier  than 
he  sent  a  sailor  with  a  letter  for  her." 

"  How  do  you  know  Captain  Bradford  sent 
the  sailor?" 

"The  man  had  '  Arethusa  '  on  his  cap  ;  be 
sides,  I  heard  him  mention  Captain  Brad 
ford." 

"Yet  I  can  imagine  occasions  for  such  inter 
course  which  would  be  innocent,  and  even 
honorable,  to  both  parties.  Perhaps  the  Cap 
tain  was  the  bearer  of  news  from  her  relatives." 

"  As  if  there  was  not  the  mail  for  relatives  to 
send  messages  by  !  " 

"  Well,  it  is  none  of  my  business  to  pry  into 
Nelly's  friendships,  and  I  think  I  shall  engage 
her.  She  is  clean,  orderly,  -and  understands 
how  to  keep  the  rooms  pleasant  and  to  wait 
on  the  dining-table  ;  you  admit  that  much  ?  " 

"She  is  simply  worth  a  dozen  ordinary 
servants — if  you  do  not  mind  her  free  tongue 


LOVE  AND  LIGHT    WILL   NOT  HIDE.      133 

and  her  queer  patois  ;  your  visitors  will  think 
her  vulgar,  I  fear." 

"  Nelly  will  not  talk  to  the  visitors." 
"  If  you  can  prevent  it." 
"  We  shall  not  abuse  Captain  Bradford." 
So,  with  a  strange  mingling  of  good-will  and 
reluctance,  Nelly  Haworth  joined  the  Mason 
family.     The  Major  was  at  once  delighted  with 
her.     He  liked  her  frank,  handsome  face,  her 
trig,  tidy  ways,  her  cheerful  air  ;  and  her  blunt, 
doric  speech  interested  him  very  much.     "You 
know,  Virginia,    the    Masons   are  a   Yorkshire 
family,  originally,  and  it  really  seems  to  me  as 
if  the    patois  had  a  homelike  echo.     Perhaps 
my  spiritual  ears  remember  it." 

"  They  have  never  heard  it  before." 
"  Oh,  Virginia  !  little  do  we  know  on  that 
subject.  How  old  is  my  soul  ?  " 
"  How  old  is  your  body,  father  ?  " 
"That  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  question 
Virginia.  My  body  changes  continually; 
years,  decades,  pass,  and  my  soul  is  the  same. 
I  am  sure  of  its  identity,  I  am  sure  of  its  re 
sponsibility  for  deeds  done  years  ago.  My 
soul  has  no  age,  and  it  does  not  grow  old.  It 
had  no  age  when  it  was  incarnated  in  this 
body.  It  will  have  no  age  when  life  ceases, 
and  it  frees  itself  from  its  earthly  vestment. 
It  will  be  no  older  when  reincarnated  on  this 
or  on  some  other  planet.  It  will  not  grow  old 
in  eternity,  and  the  ages  flowing  over  it  will 


134  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

leave  less  trace  than  the  summer  dew  upon  the 
ocean." 

"  Father,  Dr.  Wainwright  told  you  not  to  let 
your  mind  dwell  on  such  ideas.  He  said  the 
supernatural  was  beyond  our  understanding." 

"  Yet,  if  there  be  not  a  supernatural  element 
within  us,  then  no  evidence,  and  no  miracle, 
can  ever  authenticate  the  supernatural  to  us. 
Virginia,  there  is  in  man  a  spiritual  center 
answering  to  a  higher  spiritual  center  in  the 
universe.  All  controversies  and  all  dogmas 
must  come  back  to  this — the  light  of  the  super 
natural  without,  supported  by  the  kindling 
sense  of  the  supernatural  within." 

Virginia  did  not  answer  him,  and  he  turned 
his  chair  toward  the  fire  and  let  his  eyes  fall 
upon  its  glowing  embers.  She  knew  the  mood 
he  had  entered  into,  and  knew  also  that  he 
would  not  care  to  be  disturbed  until  he  had 
followed  out  the  train  of  thought  whose  begin 
nings  he  held. 

It  seemed  a  kind  of  sacrilege  to  sit  at  his 
side  considering  her  own  small  worries  and 
selfish  anxieties,  and  after  a  short  pause  she 
quietly  rose  and  left  the  room.  Six  weeks  had 
elapsed  since  Jane's  marriage — a  long,  slow  six 
weeks,  in  which  nothing  pleasant  had  hap 
pened.  This  monotony  of  depression  had  be 
come  irritating.  She  was  weary  of  the  never- 
ceasing  complaints  about  Jackson,  and  the 
Bank,  and  the  removal  of  the  deposits,  and 


LOVE  AND  LIGHT    WILL  NOF  HIDE.      IJ5 

the  clearness  of  provisions,  and  the  scarcity 
of  money.  For  the  first  time  in  her  life  she 
had  been  checked  in  her  private  expenditure. 
She  had  begun  to  spell  the  word  "  poverty  " 
with  a  kind  of  pitying  wonder  and  fear  for 
herself  in  the  hard,  new  lesson. 

It  seemed  this  day  as  if  something  must 
happen  to  break  that  sameness  which  almost 
doubles  trials.  She  did  not  feel  able  to  escape 
the  present,  as  her  father  was  doing,  by  a  soul 
flight  into  the  future.  She  was  ignobly  de 
pressed  and  limited  by  the  longings  and  disap 
pointments  of  the  more  material  life.  And 
the  tyranny  of  the  atmosphere — the  gray,  cold 
weather,  the  spiteful  east  wind — affected  her  as 
they  had  never  done  before.  When  she 
reached  her  own  room  she  looked  into  the 
street  and  shuddered  at  the  banks  of  soiled 
snow,  and  the  skeletons  of  trees  stripped  by 
the  winter  winds. 

"  What  is  the  matter  with  me  ?  "  she  asked, 
almost  angrily  ;  and  she  wisely  sat  down  to 
consider,  and  to  answer  to  herself  the  ques 
tion  :  "  Is  it  the  loss  of  money  ?  or  the 
marriage  of  Jane  ?  or  the  disappointment 
about  Marius  ?" 

She  put  the  last  question  last,  because  it 
was  the  first  in  her  mind  ;  and  it  still  remained 
persistent  and  unanswered,  after  she  had  dis 
posed  of  the  other  two  with  little  mental  query 
or  pain.  "  Well,  then,  it  is  Marius"  she  said. 


136  SHE  LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

positively,  putting  her  feet  upon  the  fender, 
and  resolutely  facing  the  truth. 

"  I  am  disappointed  because  he  did  not  bring 
the  silk.  I  am  annoyed  because  father  sent 
the  money  by  Mr.  Rhea  without  any  inquiry 
or  visible  expression  of  courtesy.  I  am  wor 
ried  about  Marius — and  Nelly."  She  hesitated 
at  this  admission  and  blushed  vividly  as  she 
compelled  herself  to  make  it.  "  So  far,  true. 
Now,  what  have  been  the  consequences  ? " 
She  considered  them  frankly,  and  as  frankly 
told  herself  the  truth,  when  by  honest  self- 
examination  she  reached  it : 

"I  have  been  miserably  selfish,  and  not  only 
unhappy  myself  but  the  cause  of  unhappiness 
to  others.  I  have  fallen  below  all  that  duty 
required  of  me.  My  father  and  the  rest  of 
the  household  have  a  right  to  expect  help, 
sympathy,  and  refreshing  cheerfulness.  I  have 
not  given  them.  I  can  see  plainly  that  every 
one  has  lately  gone  away  from  me  disap 
pointed  ;  just  as  they  would  turn  from  a  spring 
dried  up.  Even  my  father,  whom  I  dearly 
love,.  I  have  not  made  happy.  My  lassitude 
has  exhausted  him,  my  silence  and  preoccupa 
tion  depressed  him.  Would  Marius  desire  or 
approve  this  neglect  of  duty  for  his  sake  ?  No  ; 
he  would  tell  me  to  be  happy  myself,  and  to 
be  cheerful  with  others,  and  to  trust  him  in 
all  things.  I — will — do — it." 

She  said  the  words  slowly,  and  sat  still  a  mo- 


LOVE  AND   LIGHT    WILL   ArO7"  HIDE.      13? 

ment  to  realize  her  own  promise.  And  when 
she  rose  and  lifted  the  work  which  she  had 
flung  down  with  such  discouragement,  she  was 
a  different  woman.  There  was  a  smile  upon 
her  face  ;  she  had  turned  it  to  the  east. 

She  did  not  continue  her  sewing.  "  I  will 
go  out,"  she  said.  "  If  events  will  not  come  to 
me,  I  will  at  least  give  them  an  opportunity  to 
meet  me  on  the  street."  She  dressed  rapidly, 
and  resolved  to  take  the  broad  sidewalk  down 
Broadway.  As  she  passed  the  parlor  she 
peeped  in  with  a  smiling  face,  and  said, 
"  Father,  I  am  going  for  a  walk." 

"  Have  the  carriage,  Virginia,  and  drive. 
You  will  get  your  feet  wet." 

"  I  would  rather  walk.  I  want  to  be  in  mo 
tion.  I  want  to  touch  people,  and  to  feel  the 
crowd." 

"  Very  well.  I  do  not  pretend  to  under 
stand  women,  or  anything  they  do;  though 
I  have  lived  with  them  more  than  sixty 
years." 

He  felt  the  laugh,  with  which  she  answered 
this  sally,  to  be  refreshing.  It  had  its  old  sym 
pathetic,  good-natured  ring.  It  inspired  him 
to  movement  also.  He  remembered  that  Har 
pers  had  just  sent  him  "  The  Pilgrims  of  the 
Rhine,"  and  there  was  an  occult  flavor  in  Bul- 
wer's  novels  which  piqued  his  own  leaning  to 
the  supernatural.  He  rose  for  the  book,  and 
stood  a  few  moments  at  the  Broadway  window 


I38  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

to  watch  Virginia  out  of  sight  and  catch  her 
last  backward  smile. 

It  was  scarcely  noon  then,  and  the  short 
winter  day  was  nearly  over  when  she  returned. 
She  went  at  once  to  the  parlor,  throwing  off, 
as  she  entered,  the  heavy  velvet  cloak  she 
wore.  Her  lovely  face  looked  out  of  her  large 
bonnet  like  a  flower  out  of  its  cup  ;  she  untied 
its  strings,  and  with  it  in  her  hand  stopped  and 
kissed  her  father,  who  was  lying  at  eas3  in  his 
large  chair,  his  face  expressing  nothing  but 
serenity  and  satisfaction. 

"  I  have  been  visiting,  father.  I  walked  as 
far  as  Atwell's  music  store,  to  see  what  new 
songs  he  had ;  and  as  I  passed  Park  Place, 
Margaret  Hone  was  at  her  window,  and  saw 
me.  She  asked  me  to  come  in  and  take  lunch 
with  them,  and  hear  all  about  Mr.  Ray's  party." 

"Was  it  indeed  such  a  fine  affair?" 

"  The  finest  ever  given  in  New  York.  The 
house,  Margaret  says,  is  grand  enough  for  a 
duke.  The  ceilings  are  all  exquisitely  painted; 
the  moldings  are  gilded  ;  the  ottomans  and 
curtains  of  the  richest  satin  ;  and  the  mirrors 
and  other  decorations  splendid  beyond  descrip 
tion.  Margaret  also  says  that  the  dancing 
and  the  supper  equaled  anything  they  saw 
either  in  London  or  Paris." 

"  New  York  is  doing  pretty  well.  I  am 
sorry  we  did  not  go,  Virginia — if  you  re. 
gret  it." 


LOVE  AND  LIGHT    WILL   NOT  HIDE.      139 

"Oh,  no,  father!  How  could  I  have  found 
any  joy  in  dancing  and  making  merry  when  I 
knew  you  were  anxious  ?  And  it  would  not 
have  been  right  to  spend  money  unnecessarily, 
when  you  are  losing  it  so  unexpectedly  and  so 
unavoidably ;  and,  as  Mr.  Hone  thinks,  so 
unjustly." 

"  Mr.  Hone  has  himself  lost  largely." 

"  Yes,  and  he  is  very  angry  at  President 
Jackson.  He  spoke  with  great  feeling  about 
the  suffering  of  the  New  York  merchants. 
The  pressure  is  daily  increasing.  Father, 
what  is  to  be  done  ?  He  says  Boston  &  Provi 
dence  railroad  stock  sold  to-day  at  eighty-three 
per  cent.  It  used  to  sell  at  one  hundred  and 
ninety  per  cent.  And  the  petition  of  the  New 
York  merchants,  though  presented  to  the 
President  by  the  best  men  of  our  city,  has 
totally  failed." 

"  I  told  them  it  would  fail.  I  was  asked  to 
accompany  this  petition,  and  use  my  private 
influence  with  my  old  General.  I  answered 
then,  '  There  is  absolutely  no  private  affection, 
and  no  private  influence,  which  can  move 
President  Jackson  a  hair's  breadth  in  any  pub 
lic  question.' " 

"Mr.  Hone  told  m£  he  had  just  returned 
from  a  meeting  at  the  Exchange.  He  says 
the  whole  street  from  William  Street  to  a  dis 
tance  below  the  Exchange  was  a  solid  mass  of 
men  ;  they  were  all  in  favor  of  the  United 


14°  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

States  Bank,  and  the  return  of  the  deposits  to 
it." 

"  They  ought  to  have  been  more  patriotic. 
Virginia,  whatever  men  think  to-day,  while  the 
shoe  is  pinching  them,  the  time  will  come 
when  all  will  acknowledge  Jackson's  far-seeing 
policy.  I  can  bear  a  little  loss,  because  I  look 
beyond  myself  to  my  posterity ;  all  good  men 
can  do  so." 

"  You  must  try  and  go  down  town  to-morrow, 
father.  I  imagine,  from  what  Mr.  Hone  said, 
there  was  rather  a  funny  scene  with  the 
President." 

"  I  have  heard  all  about  it,  Virginia.  An 
old  friend  who  was  present  called  to  see  me 
this  afternoon,  and  we  had  a  long  talk." 

"  What  does  he  say?  " 

"That  opposition  to  Jackson  is  quite  use 
less;  for  he  is  as  determined  in  1834  to  crum 
ble  the  Bank  to  pieces  as  he  was  in  1815  to 
drive  the  British  army  into  the  sea.  He  says 
the  United  States  is  a  great  country,  but  not 
great  enough  for  two  Presidents  like  Andrew 
Jackson  and  Nicholas  Biddle — and  Nicholas 
Biddle  will  have  to  resign." 

"  Mr.  Hone  said  the  petition  contained  six 
thousand  of  the  best  names  in  New  York." 

"  Most  of  them  obtained  with  the  Bank's 
money." 

"  And  it  was  presented  by  a  deputation  of 
bankers  and  merchants." 


LOVE  AND  LIGHT    WILL  NOT  HIDE.      141 

"Of  course;  they  represented  their  own 
interests." 

"  They  ought  at  least  to  have  commanded 
the  President's  respectful  attention.  Mr.  Hone 
says  he  simply  flew  into  a  passion.  I  suppose 
you  know  what  Andrew  Jackson's  passions  are." 

"  I  know  nothing  wrong  of  Andrew  Jackson. 
I  will  tell  you  just  what  happened.  When  the 
deputation  entered  the  President's  presence, 
he  was  writing  and  smoldng.  Imagine  now  his 
long  pipe  resting  on  the  table,  and  the  immense 
steel  pen  he  uses  rushing  over  the  paper  in  a 
vain  effort  to  emulate  or  express  the  fiery  soul 
behind  it.  As  the  deputation  entered,  he 
pushed  back  his  paper,  rose  and  said: 

"  '  Now  gentleman,  what  is  your  pleasure 
with  me  ?  ' 

"  Then  Mr.  King  began  to  explain,  in  his 
deliberate,  dignified  manner,  but  before  he  had 
uttered  many  sentences,  the  President  cut 
short  his  speech 

"  '  Insolvent  ! '  he  cried,  taking  up  Mr. 
King's  word.  '  Insolvent,'  you  say.  Well, 
gentlemen,  what  do  you  come  to  me  for?  Go 
to  Nicholas  Biddle.  We  have  no  money  here, 
gentlemen.  Biddle  has  all  the  money.  He 
has  millions  in  specie  in  his  vaults,  lying  idle, 
and  you  come  to  me  to  save  you  from  break 
ing?  Go  to  Biddle.' 

"  Some  one  said  something  about  restoring 
the  deposits,  and  he  replied  with  anger: 


*  SH2.   ^CVED  A    SAILOR. 

"  '  I  have  said  it  befoie,  and  I  say  it  again,  I 
never  restore  the  deposits.  I  will  never 
recharter  the  United  States  Bank.  I  will 
never  sign  a  charter  for  any  bank,  so  long  as 
»ny  name  is  Andre\v  Jackson.' 

'  *  can  imagine  how  he  said  this,  Virginia, 
and  it  called  to  my  remembrance  names  that 
the  Indians  gave  him  in  his  youth — Sharp 
Knife  and  Pointed  Arrow ;  though  it  is  long, 
long  years  since  I  have  heard  them." 

"  No  one  doubts  that  Jackson  was  a  grert 
general,  but " 

He  was  a  great  general  because  he  is  a  great 
man.  And  he  looks  it  yet,  in  spite  of  his 
years.  I  have  seen  him  standing  among 
foreign  Ministers  in  gold  lace  and  jeweled 
orders,  surrounded  by  o«T»cers  in  splendid  uni 
forms  ;  only  a  tall,  spare  man  in  a  black  suit, 
without  a  single  decoration,  and  he  looked 
king  of  men  for  all  that." 

"  How  do  you  account  for  his  great  personal 
influence  ?  " 

"  He  has  great  personal  dignity — a  kind  or 
game-cock  look  which  I  never  saw  in  any  other 
man.  His  blue  eyes  shoot  forth  lightning; 
his  large  features  are  written  all  over  by  a  soul 
on  fire.  His  manner  is  frank  and  easy,  though 
commanding:  yet  his  white  hair,  brushed 
straight  up  from  his  brow,  gives  his  long, 
beardless  face  when  in  repose,  a  delicate,  an 
almost  womanly  look.  If  you  saw  him  but  a 


LOVE  AND  LIGHT    WILL   NOT  HIDE.      M3 

moment,  Virginia,  you  would  say  '  that  is  a 
great  man,'  and  you  would  never  forget  him." 
"  All  women  seem  to  idolize  him." 
"  Because  wherever  a  woman  is  concerned, 
he  is  a  perfect  Don  Quixote.  I  believe  he 
would  champion  the  poorest  woman  in  the 
land,  if  she  was  wounded  by  the  tongue  of 
slander,  or  crushed  by  the  touch  of  any  sor 
row.  He  had  a  good  mother  and  a  good  wife, 
and  all  women  are  sacred  to  him.  So  stern 
and  yet  so  gentle,  his  nature  reminds  me  of 
the  great  bow  of  Ulysses  ;  its  strength  makes 
all  other  strengths  seem  weakness,  yet  it 
responds  to  the  lightest  touch, 

"  'And  in  a  low  tone  beautifully  it  sang, 
Voiced  like  a  swallow.'  " 

"I  begin  to  love  Andrew  Jackson,  though 
some  one  told  me  he  was  very  careless  about 
his  dress — a  cardinal  sin  in  a  public  man." 

"  Some  one  wronged  him.  His  linen  slightly 
ruffled,  is  always  white  and  fine  ;  and  his  plain 
black  suit  well  made,  and  without  a  spot.  He 
carries  his  tasseled  cane  as  if  it  were  a  sword  ; 
and  his  high  white  beaver  hat,  with  its  black 
widower's  band,  is  planted  firmly  on  his  head. 
Dressed  like  an  ordinary  gentleman,  yet  if  you 
met  him  in  a  congress  of  crowned  emperors, 
you  would  say  '  he  is  the  greatest  of  all.' " 

"  Still,  father,  he  has  made  so  much  trouble." 

"  He  has  not  made  the  trouble.     Any  other 


144  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

man  being  President  at  this  time  would  have 
had  the  same  question  to  settle  ;  and  no  other 
man  would  have  grappled  with  it  as  well. 
Consider  a  moment,  and  you  will  see  that  his 
treatment  of  the  Bank  question  is  only  in  ac 
cord  with  his  treatment  of  one  equally  impor 
tant,  the  attempted  secession  of  South  Carolina 
about  the  time  we  went  to  Europe." 

"  I  remember.  The  word  was  then  nullifi 
cation.  One  heard  nothing  else  ;  it  flavored 
speech  as  the  word  '  deposits '  does  now.  I 
was  sick  to  death  of  it." 

"  Yet  on  that  word  hung  the  preservation  of 
our  glorious  Republic.  If  Calhoun,  or  some 
others,  had  been  President,  we  should  have 
had  civil  war,  or  a  broken,  dismembered  Union. 
But  Jackson  understood  the  people  and  the 
question.  I  was  in  Washington  when  it  first 
came  up;  and  he  said  then:  'South  Carolina 
wants  her  own  will,  and  her  own  way  ;  and  she 
means  rebellion,  no  matter  what  word  she  calls. 
To-day  it  is  the  tariff;  give  her  her  own  tariff, 
and  to-morrow  she  will  cry — slavery.  She 
means  "Independence."  She  means  to  break 
the  Union  ;  and  she  shall  not  do  it  while  An 
drew  Jackson  is  President.'  ' 

"That  was  a  question  worth  fighting 
about." 

"  It  was  a  question  that  required  a  man  like 
Jackson  to  answer  it.  But  all  history  shows 
us  that  when  the  hour  for  great  events  strikes, 


LOVE   AND  LIGHT    WILL    NOT  HIDE.      M5 

up  rises  the  man  able  to  control  them.  Jack 
son  was  ready,  he  was  only  waiting  for  the 
signal.  He  answered  South  Carolina's  de 
fiance  with  the  same  frightful  energy  which 
had  once  controlled  the  lawless  men  of  the 
Tennessee  frontier;  which  had  quelled  mutiny 
in  the  army,  and  terrified  the  discontented 
citizens  of  New  Orleans  into  sympathy,  or 
neutrality.  While  the  militia  of  Charleston 
were  gasconading  in  blue  cockades  and  pal 
metto  buttons,  Jackson  had  sent  General  Scott 
with  troops  to  the  seditious  city,  and  a  war 
sloop  had  anchored  in  her  harbor,  to  protect 
the  officers  of  the  Government  in  their  duty. 
He  stamped  out  Nullification  in  South  Caro 
lina  as  if  it  had  been  the  rattlesnake  on  her 
State  flag  ;  as  he  will  stamp  out  any  attempt 
to  turn  this  free  republic  into  a  mere  financial 
autocracy.  For  my  part,  if  I  lose  every  dollar 
I  possess,  I  will  remember  the  generations  to 
come,  and  still  say,  Thank  God  for  Andrew 
Jackson  !  " 

He  had  risen  as  he  spoke,  and  as  he  closed 
the  sentence  his  fine,  pale  face  was  lit  up  by  the 
glowing  soul  behind  it,  and  his  eyes  had  in  them 
a  light  prophetic  and  triumphant.  Virginia 
put  her  arm  around  his  neck  and  kissed  him. 
And  just  then  the  dinner  bell  rang ;  and  so, 
smiling  a  little  at  this  prosaic  ending  to  their 
lofty  mood,  Virginia  took  her  father's  arm,  and 
he  led  her  to  her  seat  in  the  dining-room. 


I46  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

Nelly  was  standing  behind  her  chair  ;  she  was 
quite  silent,  but  yet  in  some  way  she  contrived 
to  infuse  into  all  her  actions  a  sense  of  her 
respect  and  kindness  and  perfect  satisfaction 
with  her  surroundings.  Both  father  and 
daughter  enjoyed  the  feeling,  without  analyz 
ing  it.  They  eat  their  meal  cheerfully,  talking 
of  Mr.  Ray's  party  and  other  local  matters 
flowing  from  this  topic. 

Suddenly  Virginia  said,  "  There  is  to  be  a 
meeting  in  Chatham  Street  Chapel  about  the 
exiled  Poles.  Such  a  lot  of  them  as  I  saw 
about  the  Park — handsome,  miserable-looking 
men.  Will  you  go,  father  ?  " 

"  I  cannot  afford  to  help  them,  Virginia ; 
and  it  does  not  please  me  to  see  so  many 
foreigners  in  New  York.  I  think  they  will 
make  the  next  attempt  to  rule  us.  What  do 
you  say  to  the  opera  to-night?  We  are 
promised  some  wonderful  Zingari  music." 

"  I  should  like  to  go  very  much  ;  our  box  is 
already  paid  for,  and  we  ought  to  occupy  it 
sometimes." 

"  Then  make  yourself  handsome,  and  we  will 
go.  Suppose  you  wear  that  pink  silk  and  er 
mine  cloak  again.  I  have  not  seen  them  since 
Jane's  marriage,  and  I  thought  them  very  be 
coming." 

They  were  a  little  late  ;  the  performance  had 
begun  when  they  entered.  A  band  of  gypsies 
were  on  the  stage,  and  Virginia  felt  herself  tin- 


LOVE  AND  LIGHT    WILL  NOT  HIDE.      1 47 

gling  all  over  to  the  poignant  sounds  of  their 
guitars,  working  in  magic  combinations  with 
the  beating  cymbals,  and  the  dulcimers  whipped 
by  the  dusky  fingers.  The  music  stirred  and 
fretted  her,  as  fire  frets  an  inch  from  dry  wood. 
It  seemed  to  tease,  to  challenge,  to  tell  her 
something  she  could  not  grasp. 

She  had  often  been  in  this  first  American 
Opera  House,  but  had  never  got  over  her  sen 
sation  of  pleasure  in  its  splendor.  As  she  re 
moved  her  cloak  her  eyes  wandered  over  the 
tier  of  boxes  painted  in  superb  classical  de 
signs  ;  over  the  gilded  panels,  over  the  luxuri 
ous  sofas,  and  the  hangings  and  upholstery  of 
richest  satins.  The  music,  the  lights,  the  crowd 
touched  her  at  all  points  of  her  being;  she 
smiled  with  delight ;  she  was  conscious  of  a 
keener  and  kinder  sense  of  life. 

Their  box  was  within  sight  of  that  owned  by 
Mr.  Cruger,  and  she  was  glad  to  see  that  he 
was  not  present.  "  If  he  were  there,  I  am  sure- 
he  would  walk  over  with  some  bad  news  in  the 
interval ;  he  always  does."  As  this  thought 
crossed  her  mind  two  ladies  and  an  elderly 
gentleman  entered  it.  Virginia  did  not  know 
them,  and  she  did  not  even  speculate  about 
their  identity.  The  face  she  feared  to  see  in 
that  box  was  happily  absent ;  and  it  was  mo 
mentarily  getting  too  late  for  Us  appearance. 
She  had  forgotten  Mr.  Cruger,  when  she  was 
conscious  of  a  slight  stir  in  the  dreaded  direc- 


M&  SHE   LOVf'.D  A    SAILOR. 

tion.  Her  eyes  were  instantly  fixed  upon  the 
door.  Two  gentlemen  entered ;  one  was  Mr. 
Rhea,  and  the  other  was  Marius  Bradford. 

A  lovely  blush  instantly  covered  her  white 
shoulders,  her  slender  throat,  her  pale  cheeks 
and  brow.  Her  face  grew  luminous.  Her  eyes 
shone  like  stars.  A  kind  of  radiance  quite 
perceptible  to  a  lover's  vision  surrounded  her. 
Recognition  was  instantaneous.  The  flash 
from  the  eyes  of  Marius  met  the  flash  from 
the  eyes  of  Virginia  half  way.  He  could  not, 
for  a  moment,  seat  himself.  He  was  struck 
motionless  and  dumb  by  her  beauty  and  sym 
pathy,  though  he  did  not  know  it  was  sympa- 
thy,  and  would  have  feared  to  hope  so  far. 

From  that  moment  the  opera  was  over  to 
Virginia.  She  sat  still,  looking,  not  at  the 
stage,  but  at  the  mental  vision  behind  the 
curtains  of  her  eyes.  At  the  next  interval  she 
spoke  to  the  Major,  and,  with  a  slight  re 
luctance,  he  went  to  Mr.  Cruger's  box  and 
greeted  the  Captain.  She  had  not  said, 
"  Bring  the  gentleman  here  to  see  me  ";  she 
trusted  to  the  influence  which  Marius  usually 
exercised,  and  she  was  not  wrong.  In  a  few 
moments  she  perceived  they  were  coming  to 
her;  and  she  rose  with  smiles  and  trembling 
joy  to  meet  them. 

Marius  was  completely  under  the  spell  of  his 
great  love.  He  could  not  utter  a  word  when 
she  laid  her  hand  in  his  ;  but  to  a  woman  sc 


LOVE  AND  LIGHT    WILL   NOT  HIDE.      149 

sensitive  as  Virginia,  words  were  only  a  clumsy 
interpretation  of  a  sweet  and  subtle  language. 
In  a  glance,  swift  as  light,  unavoidable  as  the 
beating  of  his  heart,  Marius,  when  he  took  her 
hand,  told  the  whole  sweet  story. 

Fortunately,  the  music,  the  singing,  the 
necessity  for  general  remark,  made  a  screen  be 
hind  which  love  revealed  itself  in  ways  hidden 
and  occult  to  all  but  the  initiated.  Marius  sat 
beside  Virginia;  he  never  could  tell  how  this 
arrangement  had  been  managed.  Jack  sat 
opposite  to  her,  and  the  Major  spoke  to  him, 
when  speech  was  permissible,  with  great 
apparent  favor.  Then  Miss  Mason  also  added 
a  word  or  a  smile  or  some  slight  movement  of 
understanding.  And  Jack  was  perfectly 
happy.  He  knew  so  little  of  a  woman  like 
Virginia  that  he  believed  her  most  obvious 
favors  to  be  her  sweetest  and  most  worthy 
ones. 

She  appeared  to  say  little  to  Marius,  but  he 
was  supremely  blessed  in  that  little.  For 
when  she  turned  her  face  with  the  simplest 
question  to  him,  he  felt  the  few  words  to  be  a 
cypher,  whose  meaning  was  beyond  words. 
She  lifted  her  eyes  in  the  most  casual  way, 
and  his  very  soul  leaped  into  his  eyes  to  meet 
her  glance.  And  in  that  reciprocal  flash  both 
felt  all  lingual  sounds  to  be  an  intrusion,  blun 
dering  and  impertinent,  falling  far  behind  the 
clear  glory  of  a  smile  or  glance. 


15°  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

To  at  least  three  of  the  audience  the  opera 
that  night  was  exceedingly  short.  "  Fanti 
must  have  missed  an  act,"  Virginia  said,  with 
a  laugh,  and  then  she  turned  for  her  cloak. 
Marius  had  it  in  his  hand,  and  she  was 
delighted  at  his  readiness  to  seize  an  oppor 
tunity.  As  he  assisted  her  to  clasp  it,  she 
said  : 

"  This  is  the  dress  for  which  you  bought  the 
silk." 

"  It  is  the  loveliest  dress  that  woman  ever 
wore." 

"  No  one  has  yet  thanked  you  for  your  part 
in  it." 

"  Oh !  you  know  there  is  no  question  of 
thanks." 

"  Why  did  not  you  bring  it  to  me  as  you 
promised  ?  " 

"  I— could  not." 

"  You  disappointed  me." 

"  God  knows  I  would  not  willingly  do  that ; 
I- 

He  was  on  the  point  of  saying,  "  I  love  you 
too  well."  With  a  conscious  shiver  he  re 
strained  the  words.  But  Virginia  knew  they 
had  been  on  his  lips,  and  she  looked  a  moment 
at  the  bearded  portals  that  shut  them  in. 
There  was  some  reproach  in  the  look,  though 
she  was  not  conscious  of  it,  but  Marius  felt  its 
pang. 

They  had  lingered  a  little,  willingly  enough 


LOVE  AND   LIGHT    WILL   NOT  HIDE.      151 

hindered  by  the  crowd,  and  when  they 
reached  the  door,  the  Major's  carriage  had 
been  called,  and  he  was  just  entering  it.  Jack 
stood  bareheaded  at  the  door  to  assist  Vir 
ginia,  and  she  gently  drew  her  hand  from  the 
arm  of  Marius,  and  put  it  into  Jack's  hand. 
He  took  it  with  a  few  merry  words,  and  she 
answered  them  as  merrily.  Then  the  Major 
leaned  forward,  and  said  : 

"  Good-night,  Captain.  Let  us  have  the 
pleasure  of  seeing  you  again.  Come  to  dinner 
to-morrow." 

"  I  will.     Good-night." 

The  carriage  began  to  move  ere  the  pleasant 
words  of  farewell  were  all  spoken  ;  but  as  it  did 
so,  Marius  saw  the  vision  of  a  lovely  face  bend 
ing  toward  him,  and  heard  amid  the  clash  and 
outcry  one  eager  word — "  to-morrow." 


CHAPTER   IX. 

MR.    AND    MRS.    FORFAR. 

"  There  is  nothing  new  under  the  sun  ; 

There  is  no  new  hope  or  despair  ; 
The  agony  just  begun 

Is  as  old  as  the  earth  and  the  air. 
My  secret  soul  of  bliss 

Is  one  with  the  singing  stars, 
And  the  ancient  mountains  miss 

No  hurt  that  my  being  mars." 

"  Time  goes  by  turns,  and  chances  change  by  course." 

"  Thine,  too,  the  part 

To  prove,  that  still  for  him  the  laurels  grow 
Who  reaches  through  the  mind  to  pluck  the  heart." 

VIRGINIA  talked  all  the  way  home.  She 
was  under  an  excitement  which  in  its  first 
phase  found  a  relief  in  speech.  But  her 
father  was  silent,  unconsciously  antedating  the 
anxieties  of  the  coming  day.  The  meeting 
with  Captain  Bradford  did  not  appear  to  him 
as  a  matter  of  any  importance.  He  forgot  it 
as  soon  as  the  man  was  out  of  his  sight. 

Virginia  found  a  far  more  sympathetic  at 
mosphere  when  she  reached  her  room.  Nelly 
had  voluntarily  assumed  the  duties  of  a  lady's 
maid,  and  was  sitting  there  before  a  bright 
fire  crimping  the  ruffles  of  Virginia's  night 
gown  with  a  small  penknife.  She  lifted  her 
152 


MR.  AND  MRS.  FOR  FAR.  153 

pleasant  face  as  Virginia  entered,  and  immedi 
ately  rose  to  meet  her. 

"  Eh,  Miss!  You  do  look  well.  You  must 
hev  been  heving  a  good  time." 

"  I  have  had  a  very  happy  evening,  Nelly. 
Is  it  late?" 

"Going  up  hill  for  twelve  o'clock,  Miss; 
but  I'm  neither  tired  nor  sleepy." 

She  busied  herself  in  removing  Virginia's 
pretty  cloak  and  dress ;  she  brought  her 
chamber  gown,  and  loosened  her  hair,  and 
then  produced  a  tray  holding  a  plate  of  cold 
prairie  hen,  a  raspberry  jam  tartlet,  and  a 
pitcher  of  milk. 

"  I  think  a  deal  of  a  bit  of  good  eating, 
Miss.  If  you  hev  hed  a  merry  time  you  need 
it ;  and  if  you  hevn't  hed  a  merry  time  I'm 
sure  you  need  it  a  long  sight  more." 

"  It  is  just  what  I  wanted,  Nelly.  And  it  is 
nice  to  have  some  one  watch  for  me,  and  care 
for  me."  Then  she  looked  suddenly  into 
Nelly's  face,  and  said,  "  Did  you  know  the 
'  Arethusa '  was  in  port  ?  " 

"To  be  sure,  Miss.  She  hes  been  here  since 
the  beginning  of  the  week.  I  saw  Captain 
Bradford  passing  last  Monday  night." 

"  Did  you  speak  to  him  ?  " 

"  Not  I.  It  was  ten  o'clock  at  night.  I 
was  building  up  this  fire,  and  going  to  draw 
the  blind,  and  I  saw  him  pass  on  t'  opposite 
side  of  the  street." 


154  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

"  Nelly,  if  you  do  not  mind  telling  me,  I 
should  like  to  [know  all  about  your  acquaint 
ance  with  Captain  Bradford." 

"There's  nothing  to  hide,  Miss.  I  came 
over  in  his  ship,  and  I  hedn't  a  shilling  when  I 
hed  paid  my  right  there.  I  took  a  cold  the 
second  day  out,  and  hed  a  bad  inflammation 
on  my  lungs.  And  there  wasn't  any  doctor 
on  board,  and  nobody  who  cared  aught  for  me, 
whether  I  lived  or  died  ;  nob-but  a  little  lass 
that  went  and  told  t'  Captain.  My  word  !  he 
made  a  change,  quick.  He  hed  me  taken  to  a 
good  bed,  and  he  saw  all  done  that  ought  to 
be  done,  and  he  hired  two  decent  women  who 
were  on  board  to  watch  me,  turn  about  night 
and  day.  When  I  began  to  mend  he  gave  me 
good  food,  and  that  wasn't  all.  He  asked  me 
about  mysen,  and  v/hat  I  was  going  to  do,  and 
he  made  me  take  two  sovereigns  when  I  left  t* 
ship,  so  that  I  needn't  be  worrited  out  of  my 
head  again." 

"  Mrs.  Forfar  told  me  you  used  to  go  often 
to  see  him." 

"  I  did  until  he  told  me  I  hed  better  stay 
away  from  the  '  Arethusa.' ' 

"Why,  Nelly?" 

"  Varry  kindly  he  said  it,  Miss  ;  and  there 
was  a  kinder  meaning  still  in  his  heart.  I 
wasn't  knowing  much,  right  out  of  a  Yorkshire 
spinning  village." 

"  He  wrote  to  you,  though  ?" 


MR    AND  MRS.  FORFAR.  155 

"Aye,  he  did.  It  was  about  John  Thomas 
Clitheroe — that  is  my  young  man — a  deal  of 
bother  he  lies  given  me — but  they  all  do." 

"You  mean  your  lover,  Nelly?" 

"  To  be  sure.  I  promised  to  wed  John 
Thomas — he's  a  Whitby  lad,  and  a  ship-car 
penter  ;  but  he  went  to  China  on  the  '  Water 
Witch,'  and  I  heard  naught  from  him,  and  the 
lasses  were  joking  me,  saying  he  hed  run  away 
from  me,  and  such  like.  So  I  came  to  Amer 
ica,  for  I  told  mysen  many  a  time,  and  times 
again,  now  if  John  Thomas  Clitheroe  wants 
me,  he  can  come  after  me." 

"  And  Captain  Bradford  was  writing  to  you 
about  John  Thomas?" 

"  He  thought  I  hed  better  let  him  know 
where  I  was,  and  he  lies  been  looking  after  t' 
lad  for  me.  Last  Tuesday  morning  he  sent 
me  word  he  hed  found  him  out,  and  hed  writ 
ten  a  letter  to  him,  saying  he  would  be  glad  to 
hev  him  on  the  '  Arethusa.'  " 

"  You  must  be  very  happy  ?  " 

"  Well,  Miss,  I  am.  It  is  worrity  work 
thinking  about  a  lad  away  off  in  China,  or 
maybe  in  a  worse  place.  But  if  John  Thomas 
gets  under  Captain  Bradford,  he'll  hev  as  easy 
a  road  to  t'  grave  as  a  workingman  can  hev." 

"  You  think  a  great  deal  of  Captain  Brad 
ford,  NeHy  ?  " 

"  I'd  be  a  poor  sort  of  a  lass  if  I  didn't." 

"  Mrs.  Forfar  believed — that — perhaps * 


156  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

"  I  know  well  enough  what  Mrs.  Forfar  be 
lieved.  She  hed  a  young  man  on  her  own 
mind  then,  and  she  thought  every  other  lass 
was  in  t*  same  fix.  She  hes  her  young  man 
now,  and  I  doan't  mind  saying  he  is  a  down 
right  blackguard." 

"  Nelly,  you  should  not  use  such  strong 
words." 

"  I  think  them,  Miss,  and  what  is  in  comes 
out.  That's  the  Yorkshire  way." 

"  I  always  felt  sure  that  Captain  Bradford 
would  never  talk  foolishness  to  a  pretty  girl 
whom  he  had  helped." 

"  He  would  bite  his  tongue  out  first.  He 
would  that." 

"  Nor  even  look  it,  Nelly?" 

"  He's  a  bit  above  such  ways.  He'd  no 
more  look  a  lie  than  he'd  speak  one." 

"  He  was  at  the  opera  to-night,  Nelly.  I 
think  he  is  a  very  noble  looking  man." 

"Well,  Miss,  they  would  be  hard  set  that 
tried  to  match  him  anywhere.  I  don't  know 
as  ever  I  saw  a  grander-looking  man  in  all  my 
life." 

"  He  had  a  very  rough  passage  this  time." 

"  I  wonder  if  he  knows  t'  best  way  to  drive 
his  ship.  I  always  thought  he  took  her  over  t' 
roughest  bit  of  water  he  could  find." 

"Do  you  know  Mr.  Rhea?  He  seems  a 
great  deal  with  the  Captain." 

"  Well,  I'm  sure   I  can't   say  if  I  know  him. 


MR.  AND  MRS.  FORFAR.  157 

Is  he  a  good-looking  young  man,  who  carries 
himsen  as  if  he  thought  New  York  was  a  deal 
better  for  heving  him  in  it?" 

"  I  dare  say  he  may  feel  that  way,  Nelly, 
He  looks  like  Captain  Bradford." 

"  Happen  he  is  some  relation.  He  never 
called  him  aught  but  Jack,  and  t'  young  man 
seemed  to  be  t'  varry  light  of  his  counte 
nance." 

"  Nelly,  when  John  Thomas  comes,  you 
must  let'  me  know.  I  suppose  you  will  want 
to  be  married."  • 

"  When  we  hev  saved  a  bit  of  brass  to  put  a 
roof  over  our  heads.  He'll  hev  got  that  much 
sense  anyway  by  this  time,  I  do  hope.  When 
he  knew  me  first,  he  were  in  a  craze  to  be  mar 
ried—what  fool  isn't  ?  " 

"  How  did  you  feel  about  it  then,  Nelly?" 

"  I  were  in  t'  same  box.  How  we  were  to 
live  didn't  come  into  our  heads;  as  it  might 
hev  done  if  we  hed  hed  a  bit  of  knowledge  of 
'rithmetic,  and  could  hev  reckoned  things  up  a 
bit.  Anyway,  we  fell  out  one  Sunday  evening, 
and  John  Thomas  went  to  China,  and  I  came 
to  New  York." 

"  But  now  all  will  be  right  again  ?  " 

"  Happen  so  and  happen  not.  If  Fate  parted 
us,  Captain  Bradford  will  find  himsen  bested  in 
all  his  plans.  Nobody  is  any  match  for  what 
hes  to  be" 

"  We  must   always   hope    for  what  we  wish, 


158  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

Nelly;  that  is  always  right.  I  think  now  I  will 
go  to  sleep."  She  rose  with  the  words,  and 
Nelly  carried  away  the  tray,  and  left  her  alone 
with  her  own  sweet  thoughts. 

Then  Virginia  snuffed  out  the  candles.  The 
burning  wood  made  a  light  most  consonant  to 
her  dreamy,  loitering  mood  ;  and  she  sat  in  her 
white  gown  before  it  till  the  room  began  to 
chill,  and  the  snowy  bed  was  rosy  in  the  glow 
of  the  embers.  Then  she  sank  upon  it  smiling; 
her  fair  still  face  growing  whiter  and  whiter  as 
the  fire  died  out  and  the  light  of  the  waning 
moon  came  stealing  in  through  the  window. 
It  threw  across  the  white  bed  and  the  white 
sleeper  a  light  mournful  and  mysterious,  and 
gave  to  the  room  an  air  of  austere  solitude  and 
of  a  life  apart. 

Wonderful  as  the  night  had  been  to  Vir 
ginia,  it  was  more  so  to  Marius.  He  endured 
Jack's  company,  his  transports  and  illusions,  to 
the  very  last  moment,  with  a  forced  interest 
and  equanimity;  but,  oh,  how  glad  he  was  to 
find  himself  alone  !  "  At  last !  "  he  said,  with 
a  great  sigh,  and  he  turned  with  rapid  steps 
toward  Broadway.  He  felt  that  he  could  not 
sleep  until  he  had  seen  the  house  in  which  she 
dwelt ;  a  longing  most  natural,  for  love,  as  well 
as  religion,  has  its  shrines  and  its  pilgrimages. 
The  home  of  the  beloved  one  is  as  precious 
and  sacred  to  the  lover  as  the  shrine  of  his 
saint  is  to  the  devotee. 


MR.  AND  MRS.  FORFAR.  159 

He  was  tossed  on  the  waves  of  a  great  con 
flict.  He  felt  as  if  in  this  matter  both  Fate 
and  Jack  had  been  cruel  to  him.  If  he  ac 
cepted  the  Major's  invitation  to  dinner,  he  felt 
that  he  must  be  a  traitor  to  his  brother.  "I 
have  no  power  to  resist  her  charm,"  lie  said 
pitifully,  wringing  his  strong  hands.  "  In  her 
presence,  I  cannot  force  myself  to  even  wish  to 
resist  it.  What  shall  I  do  ?  " 

He  could  come  to  no  decision.  The  cold,, 
wintry  day  broke  and  found  him  still  sitting  in 
the  saloon  of  his  ship.  He  shivered  when  he 
saw  it  first  brightening  the  seaward  port.  Not 
till  then  had  he  known  that  it  was  cold.  The 
cook  was  in  the  galley ;  he  asked  for  a  cup  of 
coffee,  drank  it,  and  lay  down.  He  had  worn 
out  his  capacity  both  for  thought  and  feeling, 
and  he  fell  into  a  profound  sleep. 

Our  first  thoughts  on  waking  have  often  a 
remnant  of  the  prophesying  night,  and  are 
well  worth  notice.  The  first  thought  Marius- 
had  was,  "  She  loves  me !  I  saw  it  in  her 
eyes.  I  felt  it  in  the  touch  of  her  hand.  Ohr 
joy!  She  loves  me!"  His  second  thought 
drove  the  first  out-of-doors.  It  was  Jack,  and 
Jack's  rights.  He  almost  felt  resentment  at 
the  very  word  "  rights."  He  had  loved  her 
first.  He  loved  her  as  Jack  was  incapable  of 
loving.  Yes — but  he  had  promised  himself  to- 
give  Jack  a  chance.  His  heart  then  tried  to 
reason  conscience  away.  What  if  Virginia 


160  sf/K   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

loved  him  ?  Was  it  not  cruel  to  make  her 
suffer  for  Jack's  chance  and  his  own  idea  of 
brotherly  honor?  For  a  good  man  knows  the 
value  of  a  true  love  ;  he  dares  not  hazard  it ; 
he  will  not  squander  it  ;  he  fears  to  try  it  too 
far.  And  yet  ?  Perhaps  he  was  flattering  him 
self.  His  face  was  stern  as  he  mused — stern 
and  sad  ;  for  there  is  a  gloom  in  deep  love  as 
in  deep  water ;  a  silence  in  it  which  suspends 
both  the  tongue  and  the  foot. 

He  went  on  deck  and  saw  the  winter  morn 
ing — in  yellow  and  white — brightening  the 
river.  The  wind  was  most  unusually  favorable 
for  his  outward  voyage  ;  he  wondered  if  there 
was  any  reason  for  delay.  It  seemed  easier  to 
give  way  to  Jack  when  he  was  out  at  sea,  out 
of  hearing  and  sight  of  his  enthusiasms.  He 
was  afraid  of  getting  angry  at  his  brother — of 
learning  to  dislike  him.  The  thought  made 
him  shudder.  He  walked  quickly  forward, 
and  began  to  investigate  the  condition  of  the 
ship  for  sailing. 

About  the  middle  of  the  morning,  one  of 
the  agents  for  the  line  came  on  board,  and  he 
asked  him  if  there  was  any  cause  for  delay. 

"  None  at  all.  The  cargo  is  in.  We  have 
only  two  passengers ;  a  young  man  at  the 
office,  and  a  traveler  waiting  at  the  hotel. 
You  can  sail  with  the  next  tide,  if  you  wish, 
Captain.  I  will  have  the  passengers  and  the 
papers  here." 


MR.  AND  MRS.  FORFAR.  i6r 

It  seemed  the  best  solution  of  the  difficulty. 
He  had  proposed  it  in  one  of  those  moods  in 
which  men  leave  to  the  turning  up  of  a  penny, 
the  drawing  of  a  card,  the  accident  of  a  verse, 
or  the  answer  to  a  question,  the  decision  they 
are  not  themselves  able  to  reach. 

He  accepted  the  decision,  but  he  had  both 
regret  and  sorrow  in  it  ;  he  accepted  it,  though 
rebellion  against  it  was  in  his  heart.  At  the 
noon  hour  Jack  called.  He  came  forward  with 
a  gloomy  face.  "  Marius,"  he  said,  "  I  am  as 
miserable  as  I  can  be.  I  do  not  know  what  I 
am  doing." 

"  What  is  the  matter,  Jack  ?  " 

"  Why  did  she  not  ask  me  to  dinner,  as  well 
as  you?  " 

"  Perhaps  she  thought  she  owed  me  a  little 
courtesy  for  the  silk.  But  it  was  not  her  who 
asked  me,  it  was  the  Major.  Some  people  are 
cut  on  too  small  a  pattern  to  take  a  favor." 

"  I  wish  you  were  not  going,  Marius.  When 
I  think  of  last  night,  I  am  sure  Virginia  paid 
you  a  great  deal  of  attention." 

"  I  am  not  going." 

"Not  going  to  Major  Mason's  to-night! 
What  will  Virginia  think?" 

"If  I  was  you,  Jack,  I  would  speak  of  her  as 
Miss  Mason  ;  she  has  not  yet  given  you  the 
right  to  use — the  other  name.  I  shall  lift  my 
anchor  this  afternoon  at  fifteen  minutes  to 
five,  and  go  out  to  sea  with  the  tide." 


162  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

"  Marius!  " 

"  Jack !  " 

"  Will  you  not  send  a  note  explaining  your 
absence  ?  " 

"  Suppose  you  carry  it  for  me.  I  do  not 
like  to  let  any  man  go  ashore  on  the  last 
day." 

"  I  shall  be  glad  to  carry  it.  Write  the 
note,  Marius,  and  I  will  go  there  at  once." 

"Try  and  get  back  before  I  sail." 

There  was  a  heart  full  of  pathos  in  the 
request,  but  Jack  was  not  sensitive  to  it.  He 
took  the  note  and  hurried  up  Broadway  with 
it.  This  time  Nelly  answered  his  knock. 
She  said  Miss  Mason  was  at  home,  and  took 
him  into  the  familiar  parlor.  After  she  had 
told  Virginia  of  his  presence,  she  returned  and 
added  fuel  to  the  fire,  and  drew  the  blinds  to 
the  pleasantest  angle.  Jack  wondered  at  her 
beautiful  face,  her  magnificent  coloring,  and 
her  pretty  figure,  and  did  not  feel  the  time 
long  until  Virginia  entered. 

She  met  her  visitor  with  smiles,  and  took 
the  letter.  "  It  is  directed  to  my  father,"  she 
said  ;  "  are  you  to  wait  for  an  answer  ?  Is  it 
from  Mr.  Cruger  ?  " 

"  Oh  no  !  My  brother  sent  me  with  it,  be- 
cause  he  wished  me  to  explain " 

"Your  brother  ?  " 

"Marius.     Captain  Bradford." 

She  had  stood  hitherto.     She  now  sat  down, 


MR.  AND  MRS.  FOR  FAR.  163 

and   requested  Jack  also   to   be   seated.      "  Is 
Captain  Bradford  your  brother?" 

"We  had  the  same  mother,  Miss  Mason." 
"  Yes?     What  are  you  to  explain?      Cannot 
Captain   Bradford  dine  with  us  to-night?" 

"  He  is  compelled  to  sail  this  afternoon. 
He  said  I  was  to  tell  you  this.  He  is  very 
much  disappointed." 

"And  you  are  his  brother?  Mr.  Rhea,  how- 
proud  you  must  be  of  him  !  " 

"  I  am.  There  is  nobody  like  Marius  Brad 
ford  in  the  whole  world.  Why,  he  has  been 
both  father  and  brother  to  me."  And  then, 
led  on  by  Virginia's  sympathy  and  questions, 
he  told  her  the  full  story  of  the  captain's  self- 
denying  life.  He  told  it  well.  Nature  had 
given  him  eloquence,  love  taught  him  how  to- 
breathe  into  the  words  a  living  soul.  Jack 
talked  till  both  were  in  tears  and  smiles  ;  till 
all  barriers  of  social  caste  and  form  were 
broken  down,  and  they  sat  together  like 
brother  and  sister. 

"  But  I   must  hurry  back  to  him  now,"  he 

said,    rising  as  the  clock   struck   three.     "  He 

asked  me  to  try  and  see  him  before  he  sailed." 

"  Wait  a  few  minutes.     I  will  answer  for  my 

father."     She  went  to  the  desk  and  wrote : 

To  Captain  Marius  Bradford  : 

We  regret  very  much  your  absence  to-night,  but  understand 
how  Captain  Bradford  must  always  prefer  duty  to  pleasure. 
A  good  voyage  to  the  "  Arethusa,"  and  our  best  wishes  for  her 
Captain.  VlRG.'NiA  MASON. 


164  SHE   LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

She  folded  the  letter  as  letters  were  then 
folded,  and  sealed  it  with  a  small  circle  of  blue 
wax.  Then,  going  into  the  greenhouse,  which 
opened  from  this  parlor,  she  gathered  hastily 
a  lavish  nosegay  of  scented  geranium  and 
white  hyacinths,  and  said  : 

"  Hasten  now,  Mr.  Rhea,  or  you  will  miss 
your  brother ;  and  I  particularly  wish  him  to 
have  the  note  and  the  flowers." 

As  Jack  left  her  presence,  Nelly  entered 
with  a  letter.  It  was  from  Mrs.  Forfar,  and 
Virginia  was  delighted  to  see  that  it  covered 
many  pages.  It  was  the  first  long  letter  she 
had  received,  and  it  was  evidently  written  in 
an  extremely  enthusiastic  mood.  Virginia 
was  ready  to  believe  every  word  of  it,  but 
Major  Mason  made  a  few  allowances.  "  Let 
ters  are  never  quite  truthful,"  he  said;  "they 
reflect  only  the  passing  feeling;  they  say  too 
much,  or  too  little." 

In  reality  the  Major  had  been  sensitive  to 
an  overestimate  of  satisfaction  in  Jane's  letter ; 
he  was  inclined  to  fear  it  was  probably  the 
accentuated  reverse  of  some  condition  exactly 
opposite.  Nor  was  he  wrong.  Many  shadows 
had  already  gathered  on  the  horizon  of  Jane's 
new  life  ;  but  these  as  yet  were  alternated  by 
frequent  intervals  of  sunshine  ;  and  in  one  of 
these  bright  periods  she  had  been  led  into  that 
exaggeration  of  her  surroundings  which  is  the 
temptation  of  letter-writing. 


MR.  AND  MRS.  FORFAR.  165 

Her  honeymoon  voyage  to  New  Orleans 
had  been  all  her  fancy  painted  it.  On  the 
packet  they  were  dependent  upon  each  other's 
society,  for  they  felt  themselves  to  be  far 
removed  from  their  prosaic  companions,  and 
were  rather  proud  of  their  isolation.  But  at 
New  Orleans  they  reached  changed  conditions. 
Here  Nigel  Forfar  was  at  home.  He  was  con 
tinually  meeting  in  the  hotel,  or  on-  Canal 
Street,  some  neighbor  who  was  in  "  Orleans  " 
to  buy  slaves  or  to  sell  cotton.  The  bar  of 
the  hotel  was  his  favorite  resort,  and  there  he 
gathered  round  him  a  continually  changing 
crowd,  eager  to  hear  what  was  going  on  at  the 
"  No'th  "  about  the  all-important  Abolition 
question. 

Now  Jane  also  began  to  realize  that  she  had 
come  almost  into  a  new  world.  The  city  itself 
was  so  unlike  New  York;  she  was  constantly 
raking  among  the  ashes  of  her  dreams  for 
memories  which  haunted  her  of  its  queer 
houses,  with  their  mysterious  gardens  ;  of  that 
thick  murmur  of  the  river ;  of  the  tattered 
banners  of  the  Spanish  moss  hanging  every 
where.  And  when  Nigel  was  not  by  her  side, 
she  was  almost  terrified  by  the  strange  mixture 
of  humanity  before  her :  the  long,  swarthy, 
indolent  men,  with  their  suave  manners  and 
soft,  slurring  speech ;  the  stately  black 
women,  coifed  in  many-colored  turbans;  the 
veiled  nuns  and  hooded  monks  ;  the  lovely 


1 66  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

Creoles,  with  their  dreamy  eyes  and  warm 
white  faces.  She  felt  like  a  stranger  in  a 
foreign  land  among  them,  and  her  usual  self- 
assertion  deserted  her. 

For  the  ladies  of  her  own  rank — the  wives 
and  daughters  of  the  interior  planters — looked 
at  her  with  cool  curiosity  or  disapproving 
suspicion.  If  she  went  into  the  public  parlor 
of  the  hotel  she  could  not  avoid  feeling  it. 
She  was  from  the  "  No'th,"  and  had  she  been 
a  white  bird  in  a  colony  of  blackbirds  she 
could  not  have  been  made  more  sensitive  to 
her  lack  of  proper  coloring.  The  tall,  languid 
women,  with  thick  bands  of  black  hair  framing 
cream-white  faces,  and  large  eyes,  black  as 
night,  regarded  her  rosy  cheeks  and  fair  hair 
and  blue  eyes  as  almost  improper.  Her  alert 
manner,  her  quick  intelligence,  her  style  of 
dress,  her  form  of  speech  were  all  peculiar; 
and,  therefore,  very  likely  wrong.  The  black 
birds  whispered  suspiciously  together  about 
the  strange  white  bird,  and  the  whisper  built  a 
wall  of  separation  which  Jane  could  not  sur 
mount. 

Nigel  was  particularly  sensitive  to  this  social 
disapproval.  He  had  that  small  nature  which 
sees  through  the  eyes  of  others.  He  began  to 
have  hours  in  which  he  despised  the  beauty 
which  could  not  assert  itself.  He  knew  the 
ladies  of  his  acquaintance  were  wondering  at 
his  choice,  and  he  felt  himself  doubtful  of  it. 


MR.  AND  MRS.  FORFAR.  167 

He  knew,  when  Mrs.  Latrobe  or  Mrs.  Fontaine 
turned  their  great  black  eyes  on  his  face,  with 
ineffable  languors  in  them,  that  they  were 
pitying  him  ;  and  at  such  moments  he  pitied 
himself. 

Jane  was  aware  of  all  the  inter-drama.  One 
evening  a  large  company  was  gathered  in  the 
hotel  parlor.  Nigel  sat  by  the  sofa  on  which 
the  lovely  bride  of  Seflor  Henrique  reclined. 
The  dusky  white  of  her  shoulders  and  arms 
was  thrown  into  fine  relief  by  a  dress  of  dark 
sapphire  satin.  A  turban  of  softest  tulle  shaded 
her  pale  face,  and  crowned  with  its  transparent 
film  the  thick  rippling  bands  of  her  black  hair. 
Jane  saw  with  indignation  her  fine  eyes  flash 
and  fall  for  the  benefit  of  Nigel.  Heartsick 
with  a  sense  of  her  loneliness,  passionately  re 
sentful  at  the  injustice  and  unkindness  which 
was  wrecking  her  love  and  life,  she  walked  al 
most  unconsciously  to  the  piano,  and  touched 
softly  a  few  notes. 

"Will  Mrs.  Fo'fah  play  for  us? "said  the 
Sefiora,  with  covert  sarcasm.  She  was  quite 
sure  that  Jane  would  be  dashed  by  the  very 
suggestion.  On  the  contrary,  Jane  saw  in  the 
white  keys  a  medium  for  the  tumultuous  feel 
ings  which  surcharged  her  heart.  Without  re 
garding  the  invitation,  simply  obeying  some 
interior  urgent  demand,  she  sat  down  before 
the  instrument,  and  in  a  moment  her  fingers 
were  flying  over  the  keys,  and  her  clear  voice 


1 68  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

was  thrilling  every  atom  of  the  heavy  atmos 
phere  : 

He  who  has  drunk  of  Love's  sharp  wine 
Will  drink  thereof  till  death. 

Strength  makes  joy,  and  Jane  had  suddenly- 
found  out  her  strength.  The  agony  of  a 
moment  had  revealed  to  her  a  latent  power — 
nothing  she  had  ever  learned,  something  she 
remembered.  It  was  marvelous.  The  song, 
fresh  and  clear,  had  a  lark's  vivid,  ardent, 
velvety  notes,  and  a  recall  soft  and  flute-like 
as  a  wren's ;  a  soulful  voice,  that  seemed  to 
gravitate  above.  She  was  amazed  at  her  own 
power.  She  went  on  exercising  it  for  the  pure 
joy  it  gave  her ;  indifferent  as  to  its  effect 
upon  others ;  only  realizing  with  a  kind  of 
wonder  that  it  answered  every  increasing 
demand  upon  it. 

When  she  ceased,  she  found  that  she  had 
drawn  from  every  part  of  the  hotel  a  delighted 
audience.  The  room  was  filled  ;  it  had  filled 
without  a  word  or  a  sound.  Old  and  young 
were  standing  with  charmed  senses  around 
her,  and  Nigel's  gleaming  eyes  were  fixed  with 
wonder  and  love  upon  her  face — Nigel,  who 
had  always  declared  that  he  disliked  music, 
but  who  had  found  out  through  the  apprecia 
tion  of  others  thje  wonder  of  his  wife's  voice. 

Jane  hardly  heard  the  murmurs  of  delight 
that  thanked  her.  A  sudden  inspiration  had 
tnken  possession  of  her.  She  would  show 


MR.  AND  MRS.  1-ORFAR.  169 

these  men  and  women  that  there  was  a  beauty 
in  womanhood  far  beyond  the  sensuous  cap- 
tivation  of  mere  form  or  color.  A  number  of 
fine  verses  had  just  been  written  by  two  young 
men  called  Bryant  and  Whittier.  Jane  knew 
them.  From  her  lips  they  sprang,  instinct 
with  the  soul-fire  in  which  they  had  their 
birth.  They  were  not  all  in  exact  sympathy 
with  Southern  sentiment,  but  they  went  to 
the  truest  depth  of  every  heart.  Jane  was 
transfigured  as  she  interpreted  them  ;  she  had 
a  triumph  that  carried  all  before  it — even  her 
husband's  nervous  fear  of  a  social  blunder. 
Nobody  asked  why  she  had  done  this  thing  ; 
the  power  to  do  it  was  felt  to  be  sufficient 
warranty  for  its  exercise. 

Never  had  Nigel  been  so  proud  of  his  wife 
as  when  he  gave  her  his  arm  that  night.  It 
was  well  that  it  was  the  closing  act  of  their 
stay  in  New  Orleans,  for  Fortune  seldom 
answers  an  encore.  Jane  left  with  all  her 
honor  unfaded  ;  a  memory  that  men  carried  to 
lonely  plantations,  a  voice  full  of  noble  mes 
sage  that  echoed  more  or  less  clearly  in  many 
a  heart  for  many  a  year. 

Her  voyage  up  the  Mississippi  to  Memphis 
was  a  kind  of  overture  to  her  new  life.  It 
filled  her  with  a  strange  sadness.  The  drink 
ing  and  gambling,  the  oaths  and  quarreling, 
the  popping  of  champagne  corks,  the  gurgle  of 
liquors,  were  not  kept  out  of  the  ladies'  apart- 


17°  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

merit  by  the  slight  partition  supposed  to  ex 
clude  them.  If  she  went  on  deck,  her  eyes 
fell  upon  the  gangs  — f  slaves  going  from  the 
New  Orleans  slave  market  to  till  the  tobacco 
and  cotton  lands  of  the  Upper  Country.  To 
hear  of  slavery  is  one  thing;  to  see  it  is 
another.  Looking  into  the  unutterable  sad 
ness  and  gloom  of  the  black  faces  beneath  her 
gaze,  there  were  moments  when  Jane  wanted 
to  shriek  aloud  ;  when  she  vowed  to  herself 
that  she  would  have  neither  part  nor  lot  in 
such  iniquity;  when  she  hated  herself  for 
letting  her  love  blind  her  to  the  real  position 
she  was  to  occupy — a  mistress  and  owner  cf 
slaves. 

They  landed  at  Memphis  late  in  the  after 
noon.  It  had  been  raining  all  day,  but  the 
rain  had  changed  to  fog  ;  a  thick,  clammy  fog, 
viscous  to  the  touch.  Up  the  muddy  banks 
the  straining  mules  pulled  with  great  difficulty 
the  carriage  awaiting  them  ;  and  Jane  looked 
curiously  at  the  town  perched  upon  the  high 
bluff  of  the  river.  The  business  of  the  day 
was  over,  and  it  had  an  ii  violent  and  impassive 
air.  Few  white  men  were  in  sight,  and  no 
white  women.  Negroes,  mules,  and  wagons 
had  the  wide  streets  to  themselves.  They 
drove  so  rapidly  through  them  that  Jane  had 
only  a  confused  vision  of  red  brick  stores  and 
white  houses  in  dim  inclosed  gardens.  Every 
where  there  were  large  willow  trees,  every- 


MR.  AND  MRS.  FORFAR.  171 

where  peacocks  calling  with  harsh  ill-nature 
into  the  misty  night ;  everywhere  a  lonely 
sense  of  lives  that  shut  themselves  each  in 
their  own  tenement. 

The  Forfar  place  was  a  few  miles  out  of 
Memphis.  They  approached  it  in  silence,  for 
Jane  had  a  stubborn  depression  of  spirit  that 
would  not  be  reasoned  with.  She  felt  indif 
ferent  as  to  whether  Nigel  liked  it  or  not. 
The  house  stood  at  the  head  of  a  long  avenue, 
gray  and  spectral-looking  in  the  grayness  of 
the  foggy  nightfall.  A  white  man  met  them 
at  the  door, — a  slow,  melancholy  creature,  with 
a  mouth  full  of  tobacco.  Nigel  introduced 
him  to  Jane  as  "  Mr.  Clay,"  and  he  walked 
into  the  house  with  them.  The  wide  hall  was 
lull  of  servants.  They  smiled  and  courtesied, 
and  looked  with  gentle  kindness  at  the  young 
white  woman  who  had  come  to  rule  them. 
Nigel  spoke  to  one  or  two,  and  ordered  supper 
in.  a  voice  thr.t  struck  Jane  as  an  entirely  new 
one. 

But  she  was  too  weary  to  speculate.  She 
ate  a  little  supper,  and  was  then  taken  to  a 
large?  bare  apartment,  with  curtainless  win 
dows.  "  You  shall  furnish  it  as  you  desire, 
Jane,"  said  Nigel  kindly.  "  Are  you  not  glad 
to  be  at  home,  dear  ?  " 

That  was  sufficient.  Yes,  she  was  glad,  and 
she  told  him  so  with  kisses  and  pleasant  hopes 
and  words, 


I-J2  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

The  next  morning  was  a  lovely  one,  and 
they  went  through  the  house  together,  and 
Nigel  made  a  note  of  what  was  required  for 
every  room.  Then  he  took  her  to  the  stables 
and  the  offices,  and  showed  her  a  little  negro  vil 
lage  of  snow-white  cabins  set  between  rows  of 
live  oaks.  And  everywhere  there  was  the 
same  order  and  silence,  the  same  respect  from 
passing  servants,  the  same  scrupulous  cleanli 
ness  and  methodical  care. 

"  It  is  the  best-kept  plantation  in  Tennes 
see,"  said  Nigel  proudly.  "  Clay  is  an  excel 
lent  overseer;  no  idleness  and  no  grumbling 
here.  Look  at  those  cottages,  Jane!  could 
anything  be  cleaner  or  prettier?  Let  aboli 
tionists  give  the  free  negroes  at  the  North 
homes  as  good,  before  they  say  another  word.'* 
Then  he  drew  her  hand  through  his  arm, 
and  spoke  sweetly  to  her.  "We  shall  be 
very  happy,  Jane,  my  dear  wife,  shall  we 
not?" 

"  I  need  nothing  but  you,  Nigel,  to  make  me 
happy." 

They  were  on  the  threshold  when  she  said  sor 
and  he  answered  her  with  a  kiss.  And  it  was 
with  this  kiss  upon  her  lips  that  Jane  wrote  to 
Virginia  that  long  letter  so  full  of  hopes  and 
pleasant  exaggerations — a  letter  which  she 
wondered  at  in  after  days,  and  re-read  with 
mingled  anger  and  mockery. 

And  she  thought  as  she  wrote  it  that  Vir- 


MR.  AND  MRS.  FORFAR  173, 

ginia  had  passed  out  of  her  life — that  their 
friendship  was  a  broken  thread  time  would 
hardly  tie  again.  But  she  soon  learnt  the  les 
son  all  learn  sooner  or  later,(that  few  things  in 
life  break  off  absolutely,  and  that  there  is  often 
a  tremendous-  vitality  in  what  may  be  called 
SeauencesT} 

•^•n-*^ 


CHAPTER  X. 

b.  FAMOUS   ELECTION. 

"  For  the  masses  live  in  obedience  to  passion,  pursuing  tneii 
»wn  pleasures  and  the  means  of  gratifying  them  ;  but  of  what 
is  honorable  and  really  delightful  they  have  not  the  slightest 
idea,  inasmuch  as  they  never  had  a  taste  of  them.  What 
power  of  reasoning,  then,  could  bring  about  a  change  on  such 
men  as  these  ?  For  it  is  not  possible,  or  at  least  not  easy,  to 
change  what  has  been  impressed  for  a  long  time  upon  the 
moral  character." 

"  It  is  passion  that  brings  ruin  on  rulers,  even  though  they 
be  the  very  best  of  men  ;  wherefore  the  law  is  reason  free  from 
passion." 

/CITIES  have  their  heroic  periods,  and 
V  though  New  York  in  A.  D.  1834  was  rest 
less  and  riotous,  its  true  citizens  were  moved 
by  noble  and  patriotic  impulses.  Most  of  them 
had  heard  from  their  fathers'  or  their  grand- 
fathers'  lips  actual  incidents  of  the  fight  for 
liberty  ;  and  the  sword  or  rifle  which  had  as 
sisted  in  its  achievement  hung  yet  over  the 
hearthstone  of  their  childhood's  home,  and  had 
an  affectionate  place  in  their  memory.  Theii 
loyalty  to  their  native  land  had  still  a  strong 
anti-British  flavor.  They  believed  in  their  own 
opinions  and  their  own  handiwork,  and  wert 


A    FAMOUS   ELECTION.  i/5 

even  ideal  and  sentimental  ;  easily  moved  by  a 
song  or  a  speech  which  appealed  to  their  na 
tional  or  their  domestic  feelings. 

Up  to  this  date,  also,  men  were  made  honor 
able  by  civic  service.  The  mayoralty  was  in 
the  gift  of  the  Governor  and  the  Council,  and 
had  always  been  awarded  to  some  man  whose 
probity  and  worth  were  conspicuous.  The 
office  of  alderman  was  also  a  position  implying 
not  only  personal  worth  but  public  respect,  an 
occasion  for  wise  and  loyal  service,  and  not  an 
opportunity  for  the  making  of  money. 

But  in  1834  the  people  of  New  York,  for  the 
first  time,  elected  their  Mayor  ;  and  the  elec 
tion  introduced  into  civic  honors  the  element 
of  politics.  It  was  an  unfortunate  time  for  any 
innovation.  The  city's  commerce  was  still 
prostrate,  the  quarrel  between  the  President 
and  the  Bank  being  at  its  height,  and  the  elec 
tion  of  Mayor  was  to  be  the  test  of  New 
York's  approval  or  disapproval  of  the  Presi 
dent's  course.  And,  singular  as  it  may  appear 
to-day,  there  was  then  a  most  imposing  number 
of  wealthy  business  men  who  stood  by  the 
President  regardless  of  their  personal  interest 
in  the  matter — men  such  as  Jesse  Hoyt,  or 
John  R.  Livingston,  who,  at  a  great  public 
meeting,  declared  the  Bank  question  to  be, 
"  not  whether  their  business  was  doing  well  or 
verging  to  bankruptcy,  but  whether  the  gov 
ernment  established  by  their  patriot  fathers 


<76  SHE   LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

was  to  be  continued,  or  the  nation  was  to  be 
controlled  by  a  moneyed  aristocracy." 

Had  this  question  come  up  for  decision  be 
tween  two  parties  of  native-born  Americans 
only,  it  would  have  been  determined  with  that 
calm  dignity  which  is  made  possible  to  all  by 
the  ballot-box.  But  New  York,  with  an  insane 
generosity  and  a  prodigal  trust  in  the  very  at 
mosphere  of  freedom  to  reform  and  inform 
men,  had  not  only  given  shelter  to  all  the  pau 
pers  and  criminals  who  chose  to  come  to  her 
for  refuge,  but  had  also  given  them  the  right  to 
make  her  laws  and  elect  her  rulers. 

The  greater  part  of  her  foreign  element — 
which  was  very  large — was  composed  of  Irish 
peasants,  who  could  neither  read  nor  write,  and 
who  knew  nothing  whatever  of  civil  liberty. 
But  they  had  the  overweening  self-estimation 
of  the  Celtic  nature,  and  its  rapacious  greed  ; 
they  were  equally  sure  of  their  natural  ability 
to  take  a  share  in  the  government,  and  to  sell 
that  share  of  the  privilege  for  some  tangible 
return  in  the  currency.  This  party,  impudent 
and  avaricious,  were  easily  caught  by  the  cries 
of  the  Jackson  party  :  "  Gold  and  silver  money, 
and  not  notes  with  pictures  on  them  and  prom 
ises  to  pay " ;  *'  Jackson,  the  poor  man's 
friend  "  ;  "  Jackson  against  a  moneyed  aris 
tocracy." 

It  was  evident,  weeks  before  the  expected 
election,  that  this  foreign  mob  might  prove  to 


A    FAMOUS  ELECTION.  177 

be  unmanageable.  Major  Mason  vainly  pointed 
out  its  unreliability,  and  the  disgrace  to  the 
Jackson  party  in  condescending  to  use  the  votes 
of  such  men.  But  they  hung  around  Tammany 
Hall,  and  crowded  Nassau  and  Frankfort 
Streets,  and  in  their  rags  and  bluster  were  so 
evidently  in  the  market  that  the  temptation 
to  buy  them  was  irresistible. 

"  I  have  just  met  Mr.  Kane,  Virginia,"  said 
the  Major,  one  day  ;  "  and  he  declares  that 
one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars  have 
been  sent  on  from  Washington  to  buy  Irish 
votes.  Of  course  he  said,  also,  the  money  had 
been  taken  out  of  the  deposits  removed  from 
the  United  States  Bank." 

"  Perhaps  it  was.  What  answer  did  you 
make  ?  " 

"  I  said,  '  Why  not  surmise  five  hundred 
thousand  dollars — it  is  just  as  easy,  Mr. 
Kane?'  and  I  reminded  him  that  the  people 
who  gave  Jackson  the  sword  had  also  given 
him  the  purse.  That  was  a  little  bit  of  clap 
trap.  Virginia,  but  he  could  not  or  he  would 
not  answer  it,  and  so  went  away  with  an  angry 
shrug.  Well,  there  will  be  a  great  struggle. 
The  anti-Jackson  party  are  encamped  in 
Masonic  Hall;  and  are  crying  Verplanck  f 
The  Jackson  men  are  at  Tammany  Hall,  and 
are  crying  Lawrence  !  " 

"  Who  is  the  best  man  ?  " 

"  Lawrence  is  a  great    merchant  and  a  good 


I?**  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

man.  He  can  look  both  backward  and  for- 
•ward — backward  to  Washington,  and  forward 
to  the  men  and  women  who  are  to  make  the 
future  of  the  United  States.  Mr.  Verplanck 
lost  his  seat  in  Congress  because  he  would  not 
vote  against  the  Bank.  He  is  a  fine  scholar 
and  a  gentleman,  but  not  a  popular  man.  I 
think  Lawrence  will  win  on  his  own  public 
merits.  I  hope  he  will." 

This  conversation  occurred  as  Virginia  and 
her  father  were  eating  breakfast  on  the  morn 
ing  of  the  fourth  of  April.  Virginia's 
thoughts  were  on  the  "  Arethusa,"  for  it  was 
near  the  time  of  her  return  ;  but  the  excite 
ment  was  so  great  that  even  a  maiden  dream 
ing  of  her  lover  could  not  avoid  catching  the 
popular  enthusiasm. 

"  Mr.  Astor  came  home  yesterday  from 
Havre." 

"  He  will  be  in  time  to  see  the  pulling  down 
of  the  houses  between  Barclay  and  Vesey 
Streets,  where  he  is  going  to  build  us  such  a 
fine  hotel." 

"Yes;  and  in  time  to  vote.  Daniel  Web 
ster  was  leaving  for  Boston  as  Mr.  Astor 
landed.  There  were  thousands  on  the  wharves 
near  the  steamboat  cheering  and  saluting  him. 
I  do  not  approve  of  Mr.  Webster's  politics,  but 
if  ever  a  man  was  godlike  in  appearance,  it  is 
Daniel  Webster;  and  I  acknowledge  also  that 
mentally  he  has  no  peer  on  this  continent." 


A    FAMOUS  ELECTION.  1 79 

"Yet  he  is  for  the  United  States  Bank,  and 
against  the  President." 

"  No  man  is  infallible,  Virginia.  For  my 
part,  I  wish  the  eighth  was  here  ;  the  suspense 
is  becoming  exhausting.  I  understand  all  busi 
ness  is  to  cease  for  the  three  days'  voting." 

The  eighth  came  duly  in  its  course.  It  was 
a  dreadful  morning  ;  there  was  a  fierce  wind, 
and  the  rain  fell  in  blinding  torrents.  But 
every  one  was  at  fever  heat,  and  unconscious 
of  the  tempest ;  and  they  stood  in  the  pelting 
rain  in  long  lines  near  the  poll  until  twelve 
o'clock,  when  the  American  flag  was  run  up 
on  the  Exchange  and  the  voting  began. 

Major  Mason  had  resolved  to  vote  early  and 
then  go  home.  But  he  was  not  able  to  do  so. 
The  crowd,  and  the  spirit  of  the  crowd,  took 
possession  of  him  physically  and  mentally,  and 
it  was  late  when  he  returned.  Virginia  had 
been  miserably  anxious  for  many  hours ;  she 
had  sent  the  coachman  to  look  for  him,  and  the 
man  had  not  come  back.  Then  the  cook's 
lover  had  volunteered  his  services,  and  had 
brought  a  terrific  report  of  a  city  in  the  posses 
sion  of  roughs,  and  a  great  civic  battle,  in  which 
hundreds  had  been  slain. 

It  was  getting  dark,  and  the  hoarse  murmur 
of  a  shouting  mob  could  be  distinctly  heard. 
The  upper  part  of  the  city  was  deserted  by 
men  ;  only  white-faced  women  watched  at  an 
open  door  or  window  for  the  return  of  those 


l8o  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

who  had  gone  into  the  political  fray.  Sud 
denly  Nelly  cried  out : 

"  Whatever  do  you  think,  Miss  Virginia  ? 
Here  comes  the  master,  and  with  him,  of  all  t' 
men  in  this  world,  Captain  Bradford  and  Mr. 
Rhea."  Nelly  had  put  her  pretty  head  out  of 
the  front  door  on  a  momentary  inspection,  and 
she  ran  back  to  Virginia  with  the  good  news. 

"  Does  all  look  right,  Nelly  ?  " 

"  As  right  as  can  be,  when  men  are  half 
drowned  in  pouring  rain." 

"Nelly,  I  will  run  up-stairs  a  moment  and 
wash  my  eyes.  I  must  not  let  the  Major  see  I 
have  been  crying.  Bring  them  into  the  parlor 
— open  the  door  yourself,  Nelly — and  then  be 
in  a  hurry  with  dinner.  I  will  be  down  in  three 
minutes." 

It  really  did  not  take  her  any  longer  time  to 
bathe  her  eyes  and  face,  and  put  those  few 
touches  to  her  hair  and  ribbons  which  seem  to 
impart  a  distinct  air  of  freshness  and  order. 
Yet,  when  she  returned  to  the  parlor,  there 
was  no  one  there  but  Nelly. 

"  Have  they  not  come  yet,  Nelly  ?  " 

"  Master  has  gone  up-stairs  to  change  his 
clothes,  and  much  need  to,  Miss.  Such  a 
sight  as  nobody  ever  saw !  Wet  through,  and 
torn,  too.  Master  has  been  having  a  time." 

"  But  he  is  not  hurt  ?  " 

"  Not  he,  Miss  ;  angry  like,  but  all  himsen, 
as  far  as  I  could  see." 


A    FAMOUS  ELECTION'.  181 

"  The  other  gentlemen  ?  " 

"  They  wouldn't  come  in,  Miss  ;  and  showed 
their  good  sense  in  stepping  out.  Anybody 
as  wet  and  muddy  hes  no  business  out  of  t' 
streets.  Miss  Virginia,  what  do  you  think? 
John  Thomas  is  here.  He  came  to  t'  back 
•door,  and  I  let  him  into  t'  kitchen,  though  he 
is  a  sight.  You  see  he  is  all  t'  way  from 
China." 

"  You  did  right,  Nelly.  Give  him  a  good 
dinner,  and  make  him  as  comfortable  as  you 
can.  How  is  he  ?  " 

"  He  looks  and  he  talks  as  if  he  hed  been 
having  a  good  time.  John  Thomas  is  that 
kind  as  is  never  down  in  t'  mouth  when  there's 
a  fight  on  hand.  He  was  allays  a  bit  trying 
thet  way.  Here  is  the  master  conning,  Miss." 

Major  Mason  entered  with  a  slight  look  of 
injury.  "  Virginia,  my  dear,  I  have  been  in 
great  danger  to-day.  You  did  not  meet  me 
when  I  came  in." 

"  I  had  been  watching  many  hours  for  you, 
father,  and  very  unhappy  at  your  delay.  When 
Nelly  saw  you  coming,  I  ran  up-stairs  a  moment 
to  prepare  for  dinner.  She  said  Captain  Brad 
ford  and  Mr.  Rhea  were  with  you.  I  thought 
perhaps  you  would  ask  them  to  stay." 

"  I  did  not  ask  them  to  stay.  Mr.  Rhea 
thought  he  would  be  needed  by  the  committee, 
and  Captain  Bradford  thought  he  ought  to  stay 
with  him  in  case  of  another  fieht." 


1 82  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

"  Then  there  has  really  been  fighting?" 
"  Nelly  is  ringing  the  dinner-bell,  and  I  am 
ready  for  something  to  eat.  Yes,  Virginia,  a 
shameful  fight.  I  voted  early,  but  found  my 
self  in  a  dense  crowd,  and  amid  so  much  ex 
citement  I  could  not  get  home." 

"  What  time  did  the  voting  begin  ?" 
"  At  twelve  o'clock." 

"  But  we  heard  shouting  before  that  time." 
"  I  dare  say.  The  Whigs  had  mounted  on 
wheels  a  really  beautiful  frigate  which  they  had 
called  the  '  Constitution.'  She  was  full-rigged 
and  full-manned,  her  colors  were  flying,  and  she 
was  followed  by  at  least  five  hundred  men 
dressed  like  sailors — many  of  them  were  sailors. 
As  she  passed  through  Wall  Street  such  a  thun 
dering  shout  broke  from  the  merchants  at  the 
Exchange !  Such  a  ninefold  thundering  shout 
you  never  heard,  Virginia ;  and  the  excited 
people,  quite  heedless  of  the  rain,  fell  into  the 
procession  till  it  swelled  to  thousands.  Every 
one  was  singing  the  same  bit  of  doggerel,  but 
it  was  wonderfully  effective  : 

" '  Stand  by  the  Constitution  ! 

Down  with  the  Jackson  reign  ! 
Hurrah  for  the  Bank  and  the  Union  ! 
Verplanck  and  the  Whig  campaign  ! 
Hurrah  !  and  Hurrah  !  and  again 
Hurrah  !  and  Hurrah  !  and  again 
Down  with  Old  Hickory's  reign  !' 

I  and  others  felt  that  this  bit  of  cleverness 
was  going  to  ruin   a  noble   cause,  arid  I   was 


A    FAMOUS  ELECTION.  183 

wondering  what  to  do  when  I  saw  Captain 
Bradford  and  Mr.  Rhea  standing  on  the  Ex 
change  steps.  I  went  to  them.  'What  is  to 
be  done,  Captain  ?  '  I  said.  '  This  clever  catch 
penny  is  going  to  ruin  us.'  Would  you  like 
me  to  get  up  an  opposition  frigate?'  he  asked, 
all  on  fire  in  a  moment.  Before  I  could 
answer,  Mr.  Livingston  said,  'Yes,  sir,  if  it 
costs  ten  thousand  dollars.'  He  was  off  like  a 
flash,  and  Rhea  with  him,  and  in  a  couple  of 
hours  they  were  back  with  a  rigged  boat,  fly 
ing  the  Jackson  veto,  and  crowded  with  the 
men  from  the  '  Arethusa '  and  other  ships  in 
the  harbor.  The  two  boats  have  followed 
each  other  all  day,  and  as  the  Irish  surrounded 
the  '  veto '  with  their  shouts  and  their  shilla- 
lahs,  you  may  be  sure  there  was  a  constant 
running  fight  on  hand.  Virginia,  I  am  sorry 
to  say  the  Jackson  party — so  honorable  and 
patriotic  in  itself — has  been  shamefully  dis 
graced  by  its  partisans  this  day." 

"  I  am  very  sorry,  too,  father.  Why  do 
people  fight  about  politics  ?  " 

'•'  Because  politics  include  nearly  all  the  sub 
jects  which  touch  men's  interests.  In  most  of 
the  Jackson  wards  it  was  peaceable  enough  ; 
but  in  the  Sixth  Ward  it  was  hell  let  loose — 
oaths  and  screams  and  yells  and  threats  of 
defiance  made  the  poll  more  like  an  object  on 
which  a  mob  was  wreaking  its  vengeance  than 
a  place  for  freemen  to  cast  their  votes." 


1 84  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

"  How  dreadful !  Who  were  to  blame  ?  " 
"The  men  who  have  given  the  right  ot 
voting  to  human  beings  not  capable  of  under 
standing  the  glory  of  self-government.  The 
Irish  of  the  Sixth  Ward  have  one  idea  of  ex 
pressing  their  will — fighting  for  it;  and  a  great 
mob  of  them,  armed  with  clubs  and  knives, 
flew,  upon  some  slight  provocation,  to  the 
Whig  assembly-room,  and,  before  anything 
could  be  done,  left  twenty  men  bleeding  on 
the  floor,  and  literally  sacked  the  place. 
Those  who  reached  the  street  were  more  dead 
than  alive  ;  and  the  Mayor  was  unable  to  send 
help,  his  force  being  all  on  duty.  So  the  Irish 
to-night  are  in  possession  of  a  part  of  the  city, 
and  great  anxiety  is  felt." 

"  How  can  Christian  men  be  so  brutal  ?" 
"  My  dear,  brutality  is  really  very  popular. 
Nothing  pleases  men  half  so  much  as  an  occa 
sional  renewal  of  their  alliance  with  brutes.  I 
am  going  early  to  bed,  Virginia.  I  have 
promised  Captain  Bradford  to  meet  him  at  the 
Exchange  in  the  morning." 

"  Nelly's  lover  has  arrived.  You  remember 
I  told  you  about  John  Thomas  ?  " 

"  Certainly  ;  very  interesting  ;  tell  Nelly  I 
rejoice  with  her,"  but  the  Major's  compliment 
was  at  this  hour  a  mere  form.  He  was  scarce 
conscious  of  it,  and  rather  astonished  at  Vir 
ginia  reminding  him  of  so  small  an  affair  when 
such  momentous  issues  were  in  the  balance. 


A    FAMOUS  ELECTION.  185 

To  Nelly,  however,  the  momentous  issue 
was  at  his  kitchen  fireside.  Virginia  thought 
her  very  quiet  and  sober  about  it.  "Are  you 
really  glad,  Nelly?"  she  asked.  "Is  John 
Thomas  all  you  have  been  thinking  him  to 
be?" 

"  I  am  that  suited  with  meeting  him  again, 
Miss,  that  I  can  put  up  with  him  'most  any 
way." 

"  Is  he  going  back  to  sea?  " 

"  No,  Miss.  John  Thomas  is  as  much  out 
of  place  at  sea  as  a  blacksmith  would  be  in 
white  kid  gloves.  He  is  going  to  seek  work 
in  the  building  yards  here  ;  and  he  is  talking 
about  wedding,  of  course." 

"  Is  he  in  earnest  about  it  ?  " 

"  He  looks  as  solemn  as  if  he  had  swallowed 
t'  church  ;  but  I'll  wait  a  bit,  and  see  what's 
what.  There  is  plenty  of  big  rogues  among 
men  ;  not  so  many  little  ones.  And  when  I 
differed  a  bit  with  him,  he  began  to  be  varry 
glumpish.  It  isn't  fair,  you  know,  when  good 
temper  is  all  on  one  side.  But  he  isn't  pleased 
with  Captain  Bradford  to-night." 

"  Oh,  indeed  !  " 

"  I'm  not  taking  his  side,  Miss.  It  stands 
to  reason  the  Major  and  Captain  Bradford 
know  what's  right ;  but  John  Thomas  he  does 
hate  an  Irishman  that  badly.  And  he  didn't 
like  to  hev  to  march  with  them,  and  to 
morrow  he  says  he'll  be  under  his  own  orders, 


1 86  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

and  he'll  hev  a  good  Yorkshire  fling  at  them. 
I  doan't  doubt  it  ;  he  hed  allays  a  power  of 
forthput  in  him  when  his  feelings  got  t'  upper 
hand  of  his  reason." 

Virginia  did  not  pursue  the  conversation  ; 
she  dismissed  Nelly,  and  sat  alone  with  her 
own  musings  for  an  hour.  She  had  always 
a  sense  of  fuller  life  in  the  mere  knowledge  that 
the  "Arethusa"  was  in  port,  and  she  was 
almost  grateful  to  the  political  circumstances 
which  had  given  Marius  an  opportunity  for 
pleasing  her  father.  What  if  she  had  not  seen 
him  ?  There  was  to-morrow,  and  to-morrow, 
and  to-morrow,  and  surely  in  some  day  a 
favoring  hour  !  And  as  Virginia  was,  like  the 
majority  of  women,  disposed  to  run  into  the 
thickets  of  poetry  whenever  she  wanted  to 
hide  herself  from  herself,  she  lifted  a  little 
volume  of  sea  songs,  and,  smiling  faintly  to 
the  talking  letters,  she  let  her  eyes  and  heart 
wander  over  the  sensitized  paper,  and  feel  the 
dead  poet  speaking  for  her. 

If  'tis  love  to  wish  you  near, 

To  tremble  when  the  wind  I  hear, 

Because  at  sea  you  floating  rove  ;    v 
If  of  you  to  dream  at  night, 
To  languish  when  you're  out  of  sight— 

If  this  be  loving,  then  I  love. 

If  when  you're  gone,  to  count  each  hour, 
To  ask  of  every  tender  power 

That  you  may  kind  and  faithful  prov«  ; 
If,  void  of  falsehood  and  deceit, 


A    FAMOUS  ELECTION.  187 

I  feel  a  pleasure  when  we  meet — 
If  this  be  loving,  then  I  love.* 

The  next  morning  Major  Mason  left  home 
very  early.  He  was  full  of  enthusiasm,  and 
cast  his  eyes  frequently  upon  his  sheathed  and 
shelved  sword.  It  was  evident  that  he  thought 
it  might  be  needed,  and  that  he  would  not  be 
at  all  averse  to  the  wearing  of  it.  The  Whigs, 
though  thoroughly  discomfited  on  the  previous 
day,  had  been  preparing  all  night  for  the  com 
ing  struggle.  There  were  six  thousand  of 
them  in  and  around  Masonic  Hall,  resolved  to 
go  in  a  body  to  the  Sixth  Ward  poll,  and  keep 
it  open  to  all  voters  ;  for  only  Democrats  had 
been  permitted  to  vote  there  on  the  previous 
day. 

Major  Mason  was  among  the  six  thousand. 
It  caused  some  surprise,  and  Mr.  King  said, 
"  You  here,  Major  !  Glad  to  see  you  !  " 

"  I  am  a  Jackson  man,"  he  answered 
promptly,  "but  I  will  not  see  native-born 
Americans  kept  from  their  own  ballot-box  by 
Irish  ruffians,  Mr.  King." 

"  That  is  what  we  expected  from  you,  Major. 
There  is  intense  indignation,  and  a  fixed  re 
solve  in  the  minds  of  these  six  thousand  men 
to  see  justice  done.  The  fifteen  wards  have 
each  offered  us  one  hundred  men,  and  with  this 
battalion  we  propose  to  protect  at  every  poll 
the  sacred  right  of  suffrage." 

*  Charles  Dibdin. 


188  SHE  LOVED   A    SAILOK. 

"You  will  do  as  good  citizens  ought  to  do. 
I  am  ready  to  go  to  any  poll  with  you." 

Indeed,  just  because  he  was  a  Jackson  man, 
the  Major  was  the  more  determined  to  express 
for  the  respectable  portion  of  his  party  the  bit 
ter  antagonism  to  anything  unfair,  or  savoring 
of  brute  force  against  intelligent  choice.  And 
Virginia,  though  well  aware  of  his  excitable 
temperament,  was  not  uneasy.  In  the  first  place 
she  felt  sure  of  Marius — if  he  was  with  her 
father,  he  would  either  keep  him  out  of  danger 
or  stand  by  him  in  it.  In  the  second  place,  the 
city  was  much  quieter.  The  Major  came  home 
early  in  the  afternoon,  and  he  came  home 
alone.  But  her  pang  of  disappointment  was 
soon  healed. 

"  Captain  Bradford  advised  me  to  rest  to-day. 
He  thinks  the  great  struggle  will  occur  to  mor 
row.  All  was  sullenly  quiet  when  I  left  the  Ex 
change,  and  he  and  Mr.  Rhea  promised  to  call 
this  evening  and  tell  me  the  state  of  affairs." 

"  You  should  have  asked  them  to  dinner, 
father." 

"  I  did  so  ;  but  the  captain  said  he  must  go 
back  to  his  ship  for  an  hour  or  two,  and  Mr. 
Rhea — well,  he  did  not  seem  of  much  con 
sequence.  I  forgot  to  urge  him." 

Virginia  laughed.  "  I  assure  you,  father, 
that  Mr.  Rhea  believes  himself  to  be  of  great 
consequence.  Did  I  not  tell  you  he  was  Cap 
tain  Bradford's  half-brother  ?  " 


A    FAMOUS  ELEC77ON.  189 

''Is  he,  really?  I  have  noticed  a  resem 
blance;  but  there  is  often  a  great  difference  in 
likeness." 

It  was  about  eight  o'clock  when  the  brothers 
arrived.  The  Major  met  them  with  frankness 
and  courtesy,  and  instantly  turned  to  the  elder 
for  information. 

"  All  has  gone  pretty  well,  Major.  The 
Mayor  and  Sheriff,  with  a  large  posse,  kept  the 
Sixth  Ward  poll  open,  and  though  threats  and 
stones  were  freely  used  citizens  were  able  to 
deposit  their  votes.  But  the  Irish  are  drinking 
constantly,  and  to-morrow  we  shall  have  the 
result." 

The  subject  was  then  dropped  ;  every  one 
was  weary  of  it  for  the  hour ;  and  the  Major 
and  Marius  fell  into  a  discussion  regarding  the 
practicability  of  ocean  steamships,  and  from  it 
drifted  easily  enough  toward  the  facilities  it 
would  afford  for  a  still  larger  foreign  immigra 
tion.  It  was  a  sore  subject  with  the  Major, 
but  Marius  contrived  to  give  it  a  humorous 
turn. 

"  I  was  listening  to  an  Irishman  and  an 
Italian  quarreling  to-day,"  he  said.  "  The 
Italian  insisted  that  it  was  a  countryman  of 
his  called  Columbus  who  discovered  America, 
and  that,  in  consequence,  all  Italians  had  a 
right  in  it ;  and  the  Irishman  lifted  his  argu 
ment  with  the  contemptuous  scorn  and  passion 
of  ignorance  : 


19°  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

4<<  Columbus!  is  it  Columbus  you're  nam 
ing?  St.  Columbus  was,  as  ivery  one  knows, 
an  Irishman  born  and  bred.  Isn't  his  cave  on 
the  west  coast — and  haven't  I  been  in  it  my 
self?  And  wasn't  Father  Denis  telling  me, 
too,  how  the  angels  built  the  boat  for  him, 
and  steered  the  blessed  saint  right  into  New 
York  Bay  ;  and  isn't  that  the  good  raison  for 
us  fighting  for  what  belongs  to  us? 

"  It  is  well  there  is  three  thousand  miles  of 
water  between  us  and  Europe,  Captain.  I  am 
against  steam  or  any  other  power  that  will 
shorten  the  distance." 

At  this  moment  Virginia  and  Mr.  Rhea 
began  to  sing.  Virginia's  voice  owed  nothing 
to  culture,  but  its  notes  were  sweet  and  suf 
fused  with  feeling,  and  Marius  thought  it  alto 
gether  melodious  and  charmful.  Both  jthe 
Major  and  he  ceased  talking,  and  as  song  fol 
lowed  song  the  Major  dozed  a  little,  and  Ma 
rius  drew  close  to  the  piano,  and  watched  the 
speaking  faces  before  him.  Jack  was  singing 
with  her.  It  seemed  a  natural  concord,  but 
Marius  had  to  look  steadily  into  his  brother's 
face,  and  recall  all  there  had  been  between 
them,  that  so  he  might  prevent  the  heartburn 
ing  of  unbrotherly  jealousy.  But,  indeed,  had 
he  dared  to  think,  or  to  hope,  he  would  have 
found  plenty  of  reasons  for  hope.  Virginia 
turned  to  him  with  a  light  in  her  eyes  she 
never  showed  Jack.  She  encouraged  him  by 


./    FAMOUS   ELECTION.  191 

smiles  and  gentle  words  to  sing  again  some  of 
the  songs  she  had  heard  him  troll  on  the  deck 
of  the  "  Arethusa,"  when  the  wind  was  his 
only  music.  And  he  could  not  help  feeling 
the  glow  of  the  wish,  and  of  the  power  to  do 
so,  when  she  lifted  a  sheet  of  music,  and, 
pointing  to  its  title,  said,  "You  see  I  have  not 
forgotten !  "  She  struck  a  few  chords,  and 
the  captain's  voice  answered  the  call  in  a 
burst  of  song  that  had  the  salt  and  sparkle 
and  movement  of  the  sea  in  it : 

Blow  high,  blow  low,  let  tempests  tear 

The  mainmast  by  the  board  ; 
My  heart  with  thoughts  of  thee,  my  dear, 

And  love  well  stored, 
Shall  brave  all  danger,  scorn  all  fear, 
The  roaring  winds,  the  raging  sea, 
In  hopes  on  shore 
To  be  once  more 
Safe  moored,  my  love,  with  thee. 

"Blow  high,  blow  low"-  — they  sang  it  to 
gether,  they  sang  it  over  and  over,  till  their 
voices  and  hearts  blended  as  blend 

Two  notes  of  music 
Made  for  each  other,  though  dissimilar. 

Suddenly  the  Major  roused  himself  and  stood 
up.  Captain  Bradford  perceived  that  it  would 
be  good  policy  as  well  as  good  manners  to  end 
his  visit ;  and  he  left  while  his  welcome  was  yet 
warm.  "  You  will  meet  me  in  the  morning, 


I92  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

Captain,"  was  the  Major's  last  word.  He  stood 
with  Virginia,  bidding  both  young  men  "  good 
night,"  and  no  one  but  Virginia  and  Alarius 
perceived  any  deeper  meaning  in  the  simple 
words. 

The  next  morning  the  Major  was  too  sick 
to  leave  his  home.  It  had  ceased  raining,  and 
the  windows  were  open  to  admit  the  scent 
of  the  April  day,  bright  and  full  of  sweet 
odors  drifting  through  the  lukewarm  atmos 
phere.  But  very  early  the  confused  noise  of 
shouting  men  made  every  heart  turn  sick  with 
apprehended  trouble.  "  Is  there  any  sound 
more  dreadful  than  the  crying  and  shouting  of 
human  beings?  "said  Virginia.  "It  is  more 
savage,  more  frightsome,  more  awful  than  I 
can  imagine  the  voices  of  any  wild  animals. 
What  are  they  doing,  father  ?  " 

"  Mischief !  "  answered  the  Major  passion 
ately — "  pulling  down — mischief — men  and 
women  both.' 

"Women?     Father!'' 

"  I  say  '  women.'  I  saw  plenty  of  viragos 
on  the  skirts  of  the  crowd  yesterday — a  ragged 
fringe  they  made  to  it.  There  will  be  more  of 
them  to-day." 

"  Not  American  women  ?  " 

"  I  should  think  not.  The  wrath  of  man  is 
dreadful,  but  far  more  dreadful  the  wrath  of 
woman.  And  when  that  woman  comes  from 
the  west  of  Ireland  !  I  am  thankful  none  of 


A    FAMOUS  ELECTION.  193 

us  understood  their  unknown  adjectives  yester 
day." 

"  But  they  can  surely  be  restrained,  or 
punished  ?" 

"  For  speaking  Gaelic?  No,  my  dear.  You 
cannot  punish  a  woman  for  uttering  untranslat 
able  sounds,  however  vile  and  provoking  they 
may  be  felt  to  be." 

As  the  day  passed  on,  the  tumult  increased: 
and  the  noise  of  trumpets  and  galloping  of 
horses  was  added  to  the  human  outcry.  Major 
Mason  was  in  a  fever  of  excitement  ere  Cap 
tain  Bradford  called.  He  went  to  the  door 
himself  when  he  saw  him  coming.  The  gloomy, 
angry  shadow  of  the  day  was  on  his  face,  and 
at  first  he  could  scarcely  bring  down  his  voice 
to  its  natural  pitch. 

"  There  has  been  a  bad  day,  Captain,  I  fear." 

"  A  dreadful  day  !  a  shameful  day  for  a  free 
city  to  record  !  " 

"  Come  in  and  tell  us  all.  How  did  it 
begin?"  • 

"  That  provoking  ship  on  wheels,  with  her 
pretentious  signal  of  'The  Constitution,'  began 
it.  As  she  passed  Masonic  Hall  the  Whig 
Committee  sitting  there  saluted  her  with 
cheers.  The  Irish  mob,  who  had  been  drink 
ing  all  night,  were  infuriated  by  these  cheers, 
and  they  rushed  on  the  '  Constitution  '  deter 
mined  to  pull  her  plank  from  plank.  Then 
the  Whigs  inside  rushed  out  to  save  her,  and 


194  SHE   LOT  ED   A    SAILOR. 

they  and  the  sailors  drove  off  the  mob.  But 
they  only  went  back  to  the  Sixth  Ward  for  re 
inforcements,  and  in  a  few  minutes  a  huge 
crowd  of  dirty,  ragged  savages  streamed  with 
frightful  yells  up  Duane  Street,  picking  up 
brickbats  and  paving-stones  and  pulling  up 
palings  as  they  came." 

-Well,  sir?" 

"  The  Whigs  and  sailors  fought  bravely,  but 
the  odds  were  too  great  ;  and  they  were  com 
pelled  to  fly  for  refuge  into  the  hall.  Then 
the  hall  was  attacked  ;  but  by  this  time  the 
Mayor  and  Sheriff,  with  forty  watchmen,  had 
arrived.  The  Mayor  held  up  his  staff  and 
shouted  '  Peace ' ;  and  the  mob  answered  him 
with  stones  and  screams  and  a  fierce  attack 
upon  his  guard.  The  citizens  rushed  to  de 
fend  their  Mayor,  but  after  a  hard  fight,  when 
the  Mayor  and  fifteen  watchmen  and  many 
citizens  were  severely  wounded,  they  were 
overpowered  by  numbers,  and  forced  to  fly  by 
the  windows  at  the  rear  of  the"  building. 
Then  the  mob  took  possession  and  gutted  the 
hall." 

"  And  in  the  mean  time  what  were  the  citi 
zens  doing,  sir  ?  " 

"  The  news  of  this  outrage  spread  like  wild 
fire,  and  citizens  of  all  political  opinions  were 
soon  filling  Duane,  Elm,  Pearl,  Cross,  Au 
gustus,  and  Chatham  Streets — a  mass  of  de. 
termined  and  enraged  men.  In  fact,  the  fray 


A    FAMOUS  ELECTION.  1 95 

had.  at  this  point,  become  a  national  and  not  a 
political  one.  It  was  the  American  element 
determined  to  force  civic  obedience  from  the 
Irish  element.  A  battle  was  imminent.  The 
city  was  in. a  state  of  insurrection.  The  mili 
tary  from  the  Navy  Yard  were  sent  for. 
They  had  just  been  embarked  on  board  the 
'  Brandywine  '  and  '  Vincennes.'  ' 

"  Just  as  well.  Too  many  Irish  among  them 
to  have  done  any  good." 

"  The  military  station  was  next  appealed  to, 
and  General  Ridgely  refused  help,  because  he 
had  no  authority  to  give  it." 

"  The  stupid  old  martinet  !  The  necessity 
was  authority  enough.  General  Jackson  had 
given  him  precedent  for  that.  But  perhaps  he. 
too,  knew  he  had  too  many  Irish  to  make  his 
help  serviceable." 

"  A  messenger  was  then  sent  flying  to  Gov 
ernor's  Island,  and  the  city  military,  under  Colo 
nel  Sandford,  was  called  out,  for  there  was  no 
more  time  to  lose.  The  polls  were  deserted  : 
the  mob  shouting,  '71?  the  arsenal!'  A  great 
number  of  citizens,  on  hearing  this  cry,  made, 
by  a  variety  of  routes,  for  this  point  of  danger, 
and  got  there  before  the  mob.  As  Americans 
gathered  round,  they  handed  out  arms  to  them  • 
and  I  saw  many  strong  Jackson  men  among 
the  Whigs  at  this  time  ;  in  reality  all  decent 
men  had  forgotten  their  politics  in  the  danger 
to  their  city." 


I96  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

"  Right !  I  would  have  joined  the  Whigs 
myself  for  such  a  purpose.  How  great  is  a  free 
city !  For,  in  an  emergency  like  this,  you  may 
arm  the  mass  of  the  people  for  its  defense. 
How  went  the  fight  ?  " 

"  I  was  too  much  in  it  to  know  much  about 
it.  You  must  have  heard  the  shouts  and  curses 
that  sent  terror  to  every  heart  for  the  space 
of  three  hours.  But  when  Colonel  Sandford 
marched  down  Broadway  with  his  men  in  close 
column,  and  drew  up  at  the  arsenal,  the  gleam 
ing  of  the  bayonets  and  the  rattle  of  arms  had 
a  wonderfully  quietening  influence  on  the  mob. 
You  can  scarcely  imagine  how  quietly  these 
shouting  brutes  sneaked  away  to  the  polls  again. 
Sandford  is  now  at  the  arsenal,  and  there  is  a 
troop  of  cavalry  at  the  City  Hall.  When  the 
polls  closed  they  took  the  ballot-box  of  the 
Sixth  Ward  into  the  City  Hall  and  locked  it 
up.  Six  thousand  angry,  cursing  furies  fol 
lowed  it,  but  there  it  is ;  and  the  election  is 
over.'' 

"  It  has  been  a  shameful  outrage  on  Ameri 
can  hospitality.  (Our  city  has  been  on  the 
verge  of  disaster  for  three  days,  because  a 
crowd  of  foreign  ruffians,  scarce  one  of  whom 
can  read,  chose  to  deny  to  the  native-born  citi 
zens  of  New  York  the  right  of  our  own  ballot- 
box/)  Though  Lawrence  is  the  Jackson  man, 
I  shall  not  be  sorry  if  he  is  beaten.  I  am  a 
good  Democrat  of  the  Jackson  stripe,  Captain. 


A    FAMOUS  ELECTION.  197 

but  I  am  above  all  other  things  an  Ameri. 
can." 

"  I  sail  in  the  same  boat,  Major." 

"  Come  up  to-morrow  night,  if  you  can,  and 
drink  a  bumper  to  our  success." 

"  I  cannot.  My  ship  has  yet  all  her  cargo  to 
take  in.  I  shall  have  a  double  force  working 
day  and  night.  They  are  now  waiting  for  me, 
and  I  must  hurry  away.  I  shall  not  see  you 
again  at  this  time."  He  said  the  words  to  the 
Major,  but  his  eyes  sought  Virginia's  eyes,  and, 
though  neither  could  have  defined  it,  they  felt 
that  there  was  a  good  understanding  between 
them. 

Indeed,  Virginia  was  so  happy  that  she  took 
herself  to  task  for  her  selfishness.  "  People 
are  anxious  all  around  me,"  she  thought ;  "  is 
it  right  to  forget  everything  in  the  certainty 
that  Marius  loves  me?"  For  she  had  as  yet 
reflected  too  little  to  know  that  this  very  com 
punction  of  happiness  is  in  itself  the  soul  of  a 
noble  thanksgiving. 

The  Major  was  much  depressed.  He  had 
been  three  days  on  the  tide-top  of  feeling ;  it 
was  now  ebb.  The  thought  of  his  losses  came 
with  that  quick  sinking  of  the  heart  that 
gathering  money  troubles  can  so  cruelly  give. 
Was  it  worth  while  to  sacrifice  property  and 
friends  for  ideals?  A  little  passion  overturned 
everything.  Men  thought  to  be  civilized  went 
back  so  easily  to  their  primitive  instincts.  "  I 


I98  SHE  LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

am  guilty  myself,"  he  said  penitently.  "  In  my 
heart,  I  have  slain  all  my  political  enemies.  I 
have  only  needed  the  power  to  second  my 
will."  He  rose  with  the  thought  and  walked 
sadly  to  the  window.  The  silent  crescent  of  the 
moon  moved  in  the  heavens  with  a  calm  and 
melancholy  beauty,  and  as  he  gazed  at  it  he 
said: 

"  It  is  the  firmament  that  shows  his  handi 
work.  No  unruliness  there,  Virginia.  Every 
star  knoweth  its  orbit,  and  keeps  it.  How 
different  are  the  ways  of  men!  What  must 
He  think  of  us  ?" 

"  Surely  men  are  growing  better,  father. 
They  have  eternity  to  grow  in." 

"You  are  right,  Virginia.  For  anything  we 
know,  humanity  may  be  only  in  its  childhood  ; 
it  may  even  yet  be  struggling  and  suffering  in 
its  birth  pains.  And  the  end  of  all " 

"  What  is  the  end,  father?  " 

"  To  become  spiritual  beings  ;  that  is  the  end 
of  all  our  efforts." 

But  for  a  few  days  longer  the  Major  was 
compelled  to  feel  himself  very  much  the  crea 
ture  of  a  material  existence.  The  anxiety 
was  by  no  means  over.  The  morning  after 
election  there  were  at  least  fifteen  thousand 
men  in  Wall  Street  and  the  adjacent  points 
waiting  for  the  result.  The  count  was  exceed 
ingly  close,  and  the  Whigs  at  the  Exchange, 
and  the  Jackson  men  at  Tammany  Hall, 


A    FAMOUS  ELECTION.  199 

shouted  themselves  hoarse  alternately,  as  the 
news  was  favorable  to  them.  A  little  after 
midnight,  Mr.  Lawrence,  the  Jackson  candi 
date,  was  declared  to  have  won  the  mayor 
alty. 

Men  then  went  home  for  a  few  hours,  but  not 
until  the  character  of  the  Common  Council  was 
known  did  any  one  feel  it  possible  to  return  to 
his  usual  business  and  in  spite  of  all  personal 
loss  and  inconvenience,  an  equally  large  num 
ber  crowded  the  Exchange  and  other  points 
until  this  final  count  was  ascertained.  Near 
midnight  of  the  next  day  it  was  declared  to  be 
in  favor  of  the  Whigs,  that  party  having  a 
decided  majority  among  the  aldermen  and 
assistants. 

"  So  we  have  really  lost,  though  we  elected 
the  Mayor,"  said  Major  Mason  ;  "  and  Fish  and 
Rhinelander  and  others  like  them  are  to  blame. 
Certainly,  '  the  tools  to  those  that  can  handle 
them  ' ;  but  we  want  tools,  and  not  bludgeons 
and  paving-stones." 

"Are  you  sure  the  Whigs  have  won  ?  " 

"  Virtually  they  have,  and  they  are  so  con 
scious  of  it  that  they  will  give  a  great  Whig 
banquet  at  Castle  Garden  on  the  i5th.  There 
are  to  be  double  rows  of  tables  within  the 
outer  circumference,  and  three  pipes  of  wine, 
and  beer  without  stint  is  ordered  for  the  thou 
sands  who  are  to  share  the  feast.  The  '  Con 
stitution'  has  been  placed  on  the  top  of 


200  SHE  LOT  ED   A    SAILOR. 

the  entrance  to  the  garden,  and  she  will  fire 
salutes  during  the  fite.  I  shall  dine  with 
you,  my  dear,  and  much  more  to  my  satisfac 
tion." 

"  I  am  grateful  the  affair  is  over ;  and  I 
trust  New  York  will  find  out  her  own  mind 
with  less  ado  in  the  future.  I  have  just  seen 
Mr.  Astor  pass ;  he  looks  ill  and  feeble.  I 
wonder  if  he  will  really  build  the  fine  hotel  he 
promised  New  York.  I  think  that  is  of  far 
more  consequence  than  the  politics  of  our 
mayor  and  aldermen." 

"  I  dare  say  he  was  going  down  town  about 
it.  The  demolition  of  the  buildings  on  its  site 
begins  immediately.  It  will  be  a  great  advan 
tage  and  ornament  to  the  city.  Here  is  the 
mail,  my  dear.  What  a  romance  it  gives  to 
every  morning!  When  its  possibilities  are 
past,  how  often  the  day  seems  over,  and  life  at 
a  standstill  !  " 

"  I  hope  it  may  bring  me  a  nice  letter  from 
Jane.  The  three  last  ones  have  been  full  of 
dissatisfaction." 

"  I  am  sorry  to  hear  that." 

"  She  says  it  is  the  climate — and  the  slaves. 
I  fear  it  touches  her  still  more  nearly." 

"  When  did  you  call  on  Mr.  Keteltas  ?  " 

"About  a  month  ago." 

"  And  I  have  kept  out  of  his  way  for  about 
the  same  time.  His  Whiggery  has  been  so 
rabid.  It  was  impossible  for  us  to  agree,  and 


A  FAMOUS  ELECTION:  201 

I  did  not  wish  to  quarrel  with  him,  even  on 
politics.  But,  if  Jane  makes  any  serious  com 
plaints,  give  her  no  advice  until  you  have 
found  out  the  ground  you  step  on.  Between 
husband  and  wife  an  interferer  has  a  thankless 
office — perhaps,  indeed,  they  deserve  it.  At 
any  rate,  put  the  sign  '  Danger  '  on  ail  sides." 


CHAPTER    XI. 

THE   BROAD   GATEWAY   OF  WRONG. 

"  The  power  of  one  man  over  another  is  contrary  to  nature  ; 
it  is  only  human  law  that  makes  one  man  a  slave  and  another 
a  free  man.  In  nature  there  is  no  such  distinction  ;  wherefore 
it  is  an  unjust  arrangement  ;  it  is  the  result  of  force  and  com 
pulsion.  "  —  Aristotle. 

"  But  man  over  men 

He  made  not  lord  ;  such  title  to  Himself 
Reserving  :  —  human  left  from  human  free.  " 

—  Milton. 


hint  of  dissatisfaction  which  Virginia 
1  had  spoken  of  in  Jane's  position  was  more 
than  justified  by  her  letters.  After  that  first 
rose-colored  effusion,  the  bright  tints  faded 
away  very  rapidly.  To  say  the  least,  it  was 
evident  that  Jane  was  not  acclimating  kindly, 
either  in  a  physical  or  social  sense.  She  was 
in  a  position  requiring  infinite  love  and  pa 
tience  and  toleration,  and  Jane  was  neither 
patient  nor  tolerant. 

The  improvements  promised  her  in  the 
house  were  made  up  to  a  certain  extent.  She 
went  into  Memphis  with*  Nigel  and  bought 
new  furniture  for  the  parlor  and  two  of  the 
chambers;  then  Nigel  professed  to  be  short  of 
money.  This  profession  was  made  with  so 

202 


THE   BROAD    GATEWAY  OF    WRONG.      203 

many  apologies  and  affectionate  terms  that 
Jane  accepted  the  curtailment  at  the  time 
almost  cheerfully.  But  in  reality  she  was 
wounded  by  the  partial  preparations  for  her 
honor  and  comfort. 

"  We  ought  to  have  bought  furniture  in  New 
Orleans,"  she  said  gloomily  one  morning,  when 
the  poverty  and  inefficiency  of  the  Memphis 
stores  annoyed  her. 

"  The  house  is  as  well  furnished  now,  Jane, 
as  any  in  the  neighborhood  ;  as  Mrs.  Defoe's, 
for  instance." 

"  But  she  had  not  been  accustomed  to  New 
York  houses  and  furnishings,  Nigel.  Why,  at 
the  Pagets  yesterday  I  saw  a  bed  in  a  sitting- 
room  !  A  very  showy,  snowy-looking  affair  : 
but  imagine  it,  a  bed  in  a  sitting-room  !  " 

"  I  would  advise  you  to  study  the  Pagets 
a  little  less  scornfully,  Jane.  They  are  the 
people  of  this  neighborhood.  They  are  noted 
for  their  refinement  and  elegance." 

"  I  imagined  that  we  were  the  people  of  the 
neighborhood  ;  and,  really,  there  is  nothing  at 
all  to  study  about  the  Pagets.  I  think  them 
exceedingly  affected  and  commonplace." 

"  Jane  Forfar  !  " 

"  I  should  be  very  sorry  to  imitate  them  in 
the  most  trifling  matter,  Nigel.     Indeed,  lino 
gene  Paget  is  always  trying  covertly  to  imitate 
me.     I  wish  she  would  not,  she  only  caricatures 
me." 


204  SHE   LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

The  Pagets  were  Jane's  nearest  neighbors, 
and  her  bitterest  enemies.  Between  Nigel  and 
Imogene  Paget  there  had  been  a  great  deal  of 
that  ceremonious  and  sentimental  attention 
which  Southern  men  delighted  to  render  and 
Southern  women  delighted  to  receive. 

Nigel  understood  Imogene's  simple,  senti 
mental  music,  and  could  join  her  in  its  render 
ing  ;  and  the  highest  literary  ideal  of  both  was 
quite  satisfied  with  the  fashionable  "  Annuals, '* 
their  simpering  beauties,  and  pretty  poetic 
platitudes,  and  conventional  stories.  Nigel  had 
given  Imogene  an  "  Annual  "  for  four  consecu 
tive  years.  He  liked  Imogene's  way  of  dress 
ing.  He  liked  her  assumption  of  frailty  and 
dependence.  He  liked  her  evident  admiration 
for  himself.  Her  affected  want  of  interest  in 
life  since  his  marriage  flattered  him.  He  pitied 
with  all  his  heart  the  pale,  drooping  girl,  who 
always,  on  his  entrance,  looked  up  to  him  with 
a  melancholy  smile,  and  then  looked  down  to 
sigh,  and  let  her  large  eyes  fill  with  tears. 

Jane's  sharp  glances  saw  these  things  also, 
though  she  affected  not  to  see  them.  She 
understood  that'her  young  husband  was  play 
ing  a  game  of  sentiment — a  dangerous  game — 
but  she  thought  she  was  able  to  checkmate 
Miss  Imogene  Paget.  A  wife  has  so  many 
solid  advantages  to  put  against  a  mere  ro 
mantic  affection.  But  Jane  had  been  taught 
very  few  womanly  tactics.  She  did  not  know 


THE  BROAD   GA  TE  WA  Y  OF    WRONG.      205 

how  to  cover  underhand  enmity  with  smiles* 
She  could  not  stoop  to  conquer.  She  had  not 
the  evil  patience  and  the  low  cunning  of 
women  amiably  willing  to  do  the  devil's  petty 
wickednesses  for  him. 

The  influence  of  the  Pagets  was  soon  felt  in 
every  part  of  her  domestic  arrangements,  and 
Jane  resented  it.  To  be  told  what  Mrs.  Paget 
or  Miss  Imogene  thought  on  any  subject  or 
arrangement  drove  Jane  at  once  to  an  oppo 
site  opinion.  She  believed,  and  she  was  not 
wrong,  that  it  was  the  Pagets  who  had  inter 
fered  with  her  plan  of  refurnishing  her  hojuse. 
She  did  not,  indeed,  hear  Mrs.  Paget's  words, 
but  she  divined  them  very  closely  : 

"  Really,  Nigel,  I  should  think  you  have 
done  enough.  You  know  our  first  families  do 
not  depend  upon  furniture  for  their  social 
respect  ;  we  leave  that  to  parvenus.  I  am 
afraid  the  Soul6s  and  Tatams  and  Bezels  will 
feel  your  extravagance  as  a  little  personal. 
Mrs.  Forfar  cannot  expect  to  introduce 
Northern  prodigality  among  our  best  people — 
especially  now,  when  the  North  is  irritating  us 
beyond  endurance.  I  should  think  Mrs.  For 
far  would  consider  this,  and  efface  her  North- 
ern  fancies  as  much  as  possible.  Or  is  it  your 
fault,  Nigel?" 

Exactly  such  a  conversation  as  this  occurred 
the  day  after  a  visit  which  the  Pagets  had 
made  to  the  Forfar  place.  The  newly  fur- 


*o6  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

nished  parlor  was  a  flat  contradiction  to  all 
Southern  tradition.  It  was  "so  No'the'n," 
Miss  Imogene  said  regretfully ;  "  and  she 
feahed  she  would  neveh  be  able  to  feel  at 
home  again.  Mrs.  Fo'fah  must  please  fo'give 
her  the  feeling  ;  she  was  so  fond  of  old  ways, 
and  she  could  not  enduah  changes — she  nevah 
could." 

This  calling  of  her  "  Mrs.  Fo'fah  "  was  one 
of  those  small  offenses  Jane  could  not  stand. 
It  seemed  a  trifle,  but  it  roused  in  her  an  irre 
pressible  scorn  and  anger.  In  the  days  of  her 
early  acquaintance  with  Nigel,  his  soft,  slur 
ring  speech  had  been  one  of  his  charms  ;  but 
she  had  grown  to  loathe  the  clipped  syllables 
and  the  drawling  intonations. 

"  Why  do  those  women  call  me  '  Mrs.  Fo' 
fah?"  she  asked  angrily.  "Cannot  they  pro 
nounce  the  letter  '  r'?  " 

"  It  is  the  Southern  way,"  in  pointedly 
Southern  patois. 

"They  ought  to  correct  it.  A  language 
without  consonants  makes  you  believe  that 
the  people  who  use  it  have  no  character. 
What  is  '  force/  or  '  father,'  or  '  mother,'  or 
'fortune,'  or  'fortress,'  or  thousands  of  the 
best  and  strongest  words,  without  their  '  r'?" 

"  What  is  it  to  you,  Jane,  if  Southern  peo 
ple  prefer  to  drop  their  '  r'  ?  " 

"  I  don't  like  my  name  ruined." 

'*  ]  gave  you  the  name." 


THE   BROAD   GA  TE  WA  Y  OF    WRONG.      207 

"  It  is  originally  Scotch,  and  I  am  certain  a 
Scotchman  would  spit  '  Fo'fah  '  out  of  his 
mouth." 

Then  Nigel  rose  with  offended  dignity,  and, 
putting  on  his  wide  straw  hat,  called  for  his 
horse,  and  ostentatiously  took  the  way  to  the 
Paget  place. 

Jane  sat  down  to  write  to  Virginia.  She 
did  not  repeat  the  argument,  but  she  allowed 
its  influence  to  pervade  the  letter,  and  to  bring 
under  condemnation  subjects  more  easily 
handled.  The  weather  was  already  hot.  She 
could  not  imagine  how  she.  was  to  endure  it  at 
midsummer.  She  had  chills  and  fevers.  She 
had  neither  friends  nor  neighbors  ;  people  dis 
liked  her  on  principle,  without  any  other  rea 
son  than  that  she  came  from  the  North. 
There  was  not  a  book  in  the  house,  except 
those  she  had  brought  with  her,  and  she  knew 
them  by  heart.  Her  piano  would  not  keep  in 
tune.  And  the  slaves  !  And  the  whole  ques 
tion  of  slavery !  It  was  horrible !  She  felt 
as  if  she  had  fallen  asleep  in  New  York,  and, 
on  awakening  in  this  strange,  hot,  haunted 
place,  had  gradually  come  to  see  things  un 
speakable,  and  to  know  at  last  that  it  was  hell. 

This  apparently  trifling  conversation  about 
a  single  letter  was  in  reality  an  important  and 
critical  turning  point  in  many  lives.  Nigel 
reached  the  Paget  place  in  a  mood  peculiarly 
sensitive  to  influence  and  interference.  He 


eo8  SHE  LOVED  *   SAILOR. 

made  no  complaint,  but  men  never  hide  a  mai> 
rimonial  dispute,  and  Mrs.  Paget  knew  there 
had  been  one. 

"Nigel,"  she  said,  "Mrs.  Dezel  was  here 
yesterday,  and  I  do  think  it  my  duty  to  tell 
you  how  people  are  talking.  Of  course,  we  all 
know  that  you  intend  to  run  for  the  Legislature 
next  election,  and  no  man  has  a  better  chance 
— if  you  only  will  not  throw  your  chances 
away." 

"  What  am  I  doing  wrong  now,  Madame  ?  " 

"  Has  it  not  entered  your  mind  that  Mrs. 
Forfar  ought  to  have  a  maid?  People  say  one 
of  two  things — either  that  you  are  not  able  to 
afford  her  one,  or  that  she  is  an  Abolitionist, 
and  will  not  have  a  slave  to  wait  upon  her.  It 
is  even  currently  reported  that  Mrs.  Forfar 
sweeps  and  dusts  her  own  rooms  rather  than 
have  slaves  around  her.  You  know  how  sensi 
tive  our  best  people  are  now." 

"  Mrs.  Forfar  is — excuse  me,  Madame.  I 
shall  take  care  that  Mrs.  Forfar  does  no  more 
sweeping  and  dusting.  That  habit  comes  from 
her  Dutch  father  and  mother.  She  is  always 
cleaning  something.  Such  energy  is  frightful 
and  vulgar,  I  know,  but  it  bad  never  struck  me 
in  the  light  you  speak  of.' 

"But  you  can  see?" 

"Oh,  yes!  I  see  what  ruin  is  in  it."  He 
was  sipping  strong  coffee  as  he  spoke,  and  at 
intervals  lifting  his  eyes  consciously  to  catch 


THE  BROAD   GATEWAY  OF    WRONG.      209 

the  dreamy  orbs  of  Miss  Imogene,  who  lay 
opposite  him  in  a  hammock,  with  a  fan  of  pea 
cocks'  feathers  in  her  hand,  and  a  guitar  on  the 
floor  by  her  side. 

"  Have  you  a  girl  suitable,  Nigel  ?  I  mean 
for  a  lady's  maid.  If  not,  I  can  hire  you 
one." 

"  I  would  rather  buy,"  he  said,  "  unless 
Palma  would  do." 

"Why  not?  She  is  a  good  seamstress,  and 
nearly  white." 

Nigel  glanced  at  Imogene,  then  at  Mrs. 
Paget,  and  shrugged  his  shoulders  most 
expressively.  A  short  silence  followed,  but  it 
was  quickly  broken  by  the  Madame's  purring 
assertion  : 

"  She  durst  not  say  a  word.  I  should  select 
Palma.  What  if  she  does  talk?  Mrs.  Forfar's 
interests  and  yours  are  identical,  I  suppose?  " 

"  Of  course.  And  I  shall  give  Palma  orders 
she  will  not  dare  to  break.  She  has  an  insane 
dread  of  the  lash." 

No  more  was  said  at  that  time,  but  at  dusk 
of  the  same  day  Forfar  lit  his  cigar  and  strolled 
slowly  down  to  the  negro  quarters.  He  went 
to  a  small  cabin  that  appeared  to  have  been 
recently  erected,  and,  pushing  open  the  light 
door,  walked  in.  A  woman  was  sitting  alone 
in  the  gloom.  Her  hands  were  dropped  upon 
her  lap,  her  eyes  were  dropped  upon  her 
hands.  An  intense  despair  darkened  and  sad« 


210  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

dened  her  face.  She  was  surrounded  by  coarse 
cloth,  and  coarse  garments  made  from  it,  and 
an  unfinished  dress,  scrimp  and  shapeless,  had 
fallen  to  her  feet. 

"  Palma." 

She  stood  up  mechanically  and  uttered  the 
word  "  Master." 

"  Palma,  you  will  come  to  the  house  in  the 
morning.  Your  work  in  future  will  be  to  wait 
on  Mrs.  Forfar,  and  do  her  sewing.  Under 
stand  you  ?  You  are  to  be  her  maid." 

"Yes,  Master." 

"  And  it  will  spare  you  one  hundred  lashes 
to  forget  everything  that  happened  before  Mrs. 
Forfar  came  here.  Do  you  understand  ?  " 

"  Yes,  master." 

There  was  nothing  more  for  him  to  say,  and 
yet  he  lingered,  pushing  the  garments  hither 
and  thither  with  his  tasseled  cane.  Palma 
stood  erect ;  her  eyes,  full  of  despair,  were 
fixed  upon  him,  and  he  was  aware  of  the  in 
quiry  in  them,  and  anxious  to  avoid  it  without 
seeming  to  do  so. 

"  Madame  rises  at  seven.  I  hope  you  will 
appreciate  my  remembrance  of  you,  and  be  a 
tmod  girl." 

He  had  the  door  in  one  hand  and  was  about 
to  open  it;  then  Palma,  with  a  sudden  recogni 
tion  of  her  departing  opportunity,  sprang  for 
ward.  She  dropped  at  his  feet,  and  clasped 
her  hands  upon  them. 


THE  BROAD   GATEWAY  OF    WRONG,      ait 

"  Master  !  "  she  sobbed,  "  Master  !  what  has 
become  of  my  mother  ?  " 

He  made  no  answer  ;  only  withdrew  himself 
haughtily  from  her  touch,  pushed  wide  the 
door,  and  passed  out  into  the  night.  The 
sound  of  the  woman  weeping  pursued  and 
even  annoyed  him.  Under  the  large  trees  he 
could  not  escape  its  influence.  For  trees  have 
human  relations.  And  to  what  sorrows,  and 
fears,  and  agonies  of  wrong  and  injustice,  had 
these  overshadowing  branches  been  the  wit 
nesses  !  Sometimes  they  seemed,  in  their 
angry  tossing  to-and-fro,  to  protest  against 
them  ;  again,  as  on  this  night,  they  drooped 
gloomily,  their  leaves  utterly  dumb,  as  if  sul 
len  and  heavy  with  a  self-devouring,  medi 
tating,  dogged  melancholy.  The  dim,  still  air 
was  also  full  of  bats  silently  swirling  around 
him,  and  one  of  them  got  into  his  shuddering 
hair,  and  he  remembered  an  unpleasant  negro 
superstition  about  the  circumstance. 

He  was  creepy  and  uncomfortable,  and  glad 
to  reach  the  more  open  space  in  which  the 
house  stood.  Jane  was  on  the  gallery.  She 
sat  in  a  large  rocking-chair,  and  had  an  air  at 
once  sad  and  resentful.  But  at  this  moment 
he  felt  the  need  of  some  nature  sympathetic  to 
his  own,  and  he  spoke  kindly  to  her,  and  ad 
vised  her  to  cover  her  head,  if  she  were  going 
to  remain  in  the  night  air.  She  was  pleased 
at  the  small  thoughtfulness,-  and  went  in  to 


CIS  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

get  ner  linen  sunbonnet.  When  she  returned, 
Nigel  said  : 

"  It  is  high  time,  my  dear  Jane,  that  you 
ceased  waiting  upon  yoursen.  I  am  not  always 
here  to  attend  to  you,  and  I  do  not  like  you 
running  up  and  down  stairs  so  much.  In  this 
climate  it  is  not  considered  healthy."  He 
knew  that  if  he  said,  "  In  our  circle  it  is  not 
considered  ladylike,"  she  would  suspect  at 
once  the  interference  of  the  Pagets,  so  he 
chose  the  form  that  appeared  most  personally 
thoughtful. 

J;me  was  not  inclined  to  be  suspicious. 
Honest  in  thought  and  word  herself,  it  was 
only  on  good  evidence,  or  excellent  circum 
stantial  proofs,  she  questioned  the  truthfulness 
of  others.  She  was  grateful  for  the  care  Nigel's 
words  implied,  but  she  declared  "she  would 
much  prefer  her  solitude  and  independence." 

"Sometimes,  Nigel,"  she  said,  "I  am  very 
much  depressed,  and  I  cry  a  little,  and  it  does 
me  good,  and  nobody  any  harm  ;  but  if  I  had 
a  woman  sitting  in  my  room  always,  I  should 
feel  her  a  dreadful  incubus.  I  would  have  to 
be  under  control  at  every  moment  of  my  life, 
or  she  would  often  judge  me  unjustly.  Then 
she  might  talk  to  the  other  servants,  and  make 
people  think  that  you  were  unkind  to  me." 

"  People  know  me  too  well  to  imagine  I 
could  be  unkind  to  any  woman.  How  much  less 
to  you,  my  wife  ?  And,  indeed,  Jane,  in  your 


THE  BROAD  GA  TE  WA  Y  OF  WRONG.      2 1 3 

present  delicate  health,  it  would  be  of  the 
greatest  benefit  if  you  were  compelled  to  con 
trol  yourself  more.  My  darling,  I  know  the 
climate  better  than  you  do.  and  I  cannot  let 
you  be  alone  any  longer.  As  it  gets  warmer, 
you  might  faint  in  your  chamber,  and  no  one 
near  to  give  you  assistance." 

"  But  Nigel,  dear." 

"  For  my  sake,  Jane." 

Then  she  gave  in,  and  Nigel  proceeded  to 
tell  her  that  the  girl  Palma  was  to  be  her  own 
from  that  day. 

"  I  will  have  the  proper  papers  made  out," 
he  said,  "and  I  think  you  will  find  her  a  great 
comfort.  She  is  very  quiet  lately — she  has  had 
a  little  trouble ;  but  negroes  soon  forget.  You 
will  find  her  much  above  the  usual  maid. 
Palma  has  had  advantages.  She  can  even  read 
and  write.  But  I  would  not  be  too  familiar 
with  her.  She  has  an  infernal  temper  if  she  is 
crossed." 

"  Do  you  think  a  woman  of  that  kind  is  likely 
to  add  to  my  happiness,  Nigel  ?  Really,  I 
would  rather  be  alone." 

"  Try  her  for  two  months.  If  you  cannot 
manage  her,  I  will  find  a  way  to  do  it."  He 
puffed  his  cigar  viciously,  and  was  silent,  and 
suddenly  less  affectionate. 

In  the  morning,  when  Jane  awoke,  the  girl 
Palma  was  standing  at  one  of  the  windows  of 
her  room.  She  lay  quiet  and  watched  her. 


214  SHE    LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

Her  face  it  was  impossible  to  see,  but  a  great 
deal  could  be  inferred  from  her  attitude,  from 
the  long  slender  arms  dropped  so  hopelessly 
downward,  and  the  intentness  of  her  gaze  out 
ward. 

"  PaJma  '  " 

Palma  turned  quickly  and  came  to  the  bed 
side.  She  tried  to  smile,  and  showed  her  new 
mistress  an  exceedingly  handsome  face,  intelli 
gent  and  sensitive ;  and  very  nearly  white. 

"  Palma,  you  are  to  wait  on  me,  and  to  sew 
for  me." 

"  Master  told  me  so.  He  says  he  has  given 
me  to  you.  Oh,  mistress  !  I  will  try  and  serve 
you  well.  I  am  in  trouble  now,  but  old  Sybil 
says  the  pain  will  go  away,  and  that  I  shall  for 
get.  Till  then,  please  bear  with  me." 

"  Poor  Palma !  You  shall  tell  me  your 
trouble,  and  I  will  weep  with  you.  Now  bring 
my  coffee,  Palma.  You  will  not  find  me  a  hard 
mistress." 

In  those  few  words  mistress  and  slave  un 
locked  each  other's  hearts.  But  for  some 
weeks  neither  ventured  further  than  the 
threshold  of  the  sacred  places.  Often,  when 
Jane  pretended  to  be  asleep,  she  was  really 
watching  the  tall,  silent  woman,  so  sorrowfully 
and  patiently  rolling  the  tiny  hems  into  which 
she  set  the  tiniest  of  stitches.  Often,  when 
Jane  was  asleep,  Palma  held  her  work  in  sus 
pense,  and  watched  her  unconscious  mistress, 


THE  BROAD  GATEWAY  OF  WRONG.      215 

and  wondered  how  much  she  might  dare  to  tell 
her. 

In  the  mean  time  the  season  was  advancing, 
and  the  heat  becoming  exceedingly  damp  and 
oppressive.  It  brought  with  it  a  riotous  vege 
table  and  reptile  life,  and  a  great  human  mel 
ancholy.  The  garden  after  dusk,  though 
glimmering  with  fire-flies,  was  pervaded  with 
the  very  soul  of  sadness.  The  odors  of  the 
soil,  the  heavy  perfume  of  hot  flowers,  the 
musky  smell  of  hidden  snakes,  the  misty  air 
laden  with  malaria,  and  full  of  unspeakable 
and  intangible  things,  was  scarcely  more  de 
pressing  to  Jane  than  the  exhaustion  of  the 
monotonous  sunshine,  resonant  with  cicadas 
and  the  never-ending  calls  and  songs  of  birds, 
whose  melody  even  became  painful  in  its  itera 
tion. 

She  was  also  sick  and  depressed  and  suffer 
ing  from  those  vague  fears  and  languors  which 
thrill  the  heart  of  a  woman  approaching  mater 
nity,  no  matter  how  often  the  experience  comes 
to  her.  If  Jane  had  felt  keenly  before,  she 
now  felt  everything  with  a  passionate  force 
and  tenderness  that  almost  terrified  her.  Of 
course  she  was  a  little  trying  to  live  with  ;  she 
wanted  love  more  than  meat  or  drink;  gentle, 
sympathetic  words  more  than  medicine.  And 
Nigel  was  not  always  equal  to  such  demands. 

One  hot  morning  she  awoke  in  a  terror. 
She  looked  toward  the  window  where  Palma 


216  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

was  usually  sitting,  and  the  girl  was  not  there. 
It  was  a  little  earlier  than  usual,  but  the  irre 
pressible  sunshine  was  flooding  everything, 
and  angry  tones  from  the  yard  at  the  back  of 
the  house  came  in  through  the  open  window. 
She  slipped  out  of  bed  and  stood  still  to  listen. 
Nigel's  voice  was  uppermost,  and  in  a  few 
moments  she  heard  his  step  approaching  her 
room.  When  he  entered  it,  Jane  was  ap 
parently  in  a  deep  sleep.  The  instantaneous 
piece  of  deception  was  altogether  apart  from 
her  character;  she  adopted  it  as  unconsciously 
as  we  wink  the  eyelid  to  protect  the  eye. 
Nigel  looked  at  her,  walked  from  the  bedside, 
and  purposely  made  a  noise  which  he  judged 
would  awaken  her.  She  answered  it  as  if  it 
had  been  a  call  : 

"Good-morning,  Nigel.  Is  it  really  late? 
Where  is  Palma,  I  wonder?" 

Then  he  kissed  her,  and  she  perceived  the 
worry  and  excitement  on  his  face  he  wished 
her  to  see. 

"What  is  the  matter,  Nigel?  You  look  a? 
if  something  had  made  you  very  angry." 

"  Something  has  made  me  dreadfully  angry, 
Jane.  I  have  just  had  a  message  from  Mrs. 
Paget.  Those  abolition  thieves  have  been  on 
her  plantation,  and  very  likely  on  mine,  and 
who  do  you  think  their  devilish  cunning  used 
for  an  emissary?  A  child — a  mere  child — 
Palma's  sister  July,  only  eleven  years  old;  but 


THE   BROAD   GA  TE  WA  Y  OF  WRONG.      2  1 7 

the  little  imp  can  read.  There  was  a  terrible 
row  over  there  last  night — almost  an  insurrec 
tion — and  Mrs.  Paget  sent  Eugene  Lanny  at 
daybreak  over  here,  with  a  warning  to  me. 
Fortunately,  Lanny  and  two  other  gentlemen 
were  at  the  Paget's  last  night,  or  I  dare  not 
think  what  those  two  poor  ladies  would  have 
done." 

"  Palma's  sister !  I  did  not  know  that 
Palma  had  a  sister." 

"  I  hire  her  to  Mrs.  Paget.  Palma  is  unman 
ageable  when  she  has  her  sister  with  her.  I 
keep  her  at  Mrs.  Paget's  as  a  hostage  for 
Palma's  good  behavior.  When  she  forgets 
herself,  I  do  not  allow  her  to  see  July.  When 
she  is  good,  I  permit  them  to  meet  occa 
sionally." 

Jane  did  not  answer,  but  her  cheeks  were 
flushed,  and  her  eyes  full  of  a  light  that  Nigel 
understood  to  mean  rebellion.  He  did  not 
notice  it,  but  went  on  with  his  tirade. 

"The  little  minx!  the  wicked  little  imp. 
But  she  got  her  deserts  for  her  treachery." 

"Oh,  Nigel!  Did  she  do  anything  wrong  ? 
How  could  a  child  be  strong  enough  ?  Insur 
rection  !  that  is  fire,  murder, — a  child  !  " 

"  A  child  !  Yes,  but  the  emissary  of  some 
abolition  thief.  If  I  could  catch  him,  I  would 
burn  him  at  the  stake.  I  would  make  a  day's 
pleasure  of  it." 

"  If  a  man   has  committed   a  crime   Nigel, 


2l8  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

there  is  the  law  ;  it  might  keep  you  from  male- 
ing  a  savage  of  yourself.  Tell  me  quietly  what 
has  happened." 

"  It  is  very  hard  to  be  quiet  under  such  prov 
ocation.  Last  night  Mrs.  Paget  had  a  little 
dance,  and  the  negroes  in  the  quarters  took 
advantage  of  it  to  hold  what  they  call  a 
'  prayer-meeting,' and  July  was  reading  them 
a  paper — a  most  bloodthirsty  paper — when 
Lanny  saw  and  heard  them." 

"  Ho\v  did  Lanny  happen  to  find  out  so 
much  ?  I  would  not  trust  Eugene  Lanny'* 
word  about  an  old  slipper!"  and  she  kicked 
a  slipper  lying  at  her  feet  out  of  the  way,  with 
a  contempt  that  had  something  very  personal 
in  it. 

"In  such  a  matter  as  this  Lanny  is  to  be 
relied  on.  His  horse  was  sick,  and  he  went 
secretly  to  the  stable  to  see  that  his  orders  had 
been  attended  to.  Then,  as  he  wanted  to 
finish  his  smoke,  he  walked  round  by  the  quar 
ters — a  providential  interference  as  it  proved. 
He  heard  a  noise  in  Jasper's  cabin,  and  some 
one  reading,  and  he  says  it  struck  him  like  an 
inspiration  that  it  was  an  abolitionist.  So  he 
put  his  eye  to  one  of  the  cracks  between  the 
logs,  and  saw  and  heard  July  reading  the  dam 
nable  paper." 

"  Then  the  devil  gave  him  the  '  inspiration.' 
What  a  scoundrel  he  must  be  to  peep  between 
logs ! " 


THE   BROAD  GATEWAY  OF  WRONG.      219 

"  Jane  !  do  you  know  what  you  are  saying  ?  " 

"Yes,  I  know  what  I  am  saying.  I  vow  it 
was  a  most  contemptible  act.  Why  didn't  he 
open  the  door  and  go  in,  and  take  the  paper 
himself  if  it  was  so  dangerous  ?  " 

"  Would  you  have  done  so  ?  " 

"Yes,  I  would  have  done  so.  I  would  have 
read  the  paper  to  the  poor,  ignorant  creatures; 
and  if  it  was  lies,  then  I  would  have  explained 
the  truth  to  them.  If  slavery  is  a  divine  insti 
tution,  it  can  be  surely  defended.  I  hope 
Eugene  Lanny  will  never  try  to  speak  to  me 
again.  The  sneak  !  " 

"  For  God's  sake,  Jane,  if  you  are  going  to 
talk  and  act  in  that  insane  way,  keep  your 
own  room !  You  will  ruin  me." 

"  I  behave  very  well  before  all  the  first 
families  I  meet.  Can  I  not  speak  freely  to 
you  ?  What  steps  did  Mr.  Lanny  take  ?  " 

"  Of  course  he  went  to  the  house  and  re 
ported  what  he  had  seen  and  heard." 

"  Of  course  !     What  then  ?  " 

"  It  was  decided  not  to  punish  all  of  those 
present." 

"  That  would  be  inconvenient  to  Mrs.  Paget 
— perhaps  expensive." 

"  But  to  make  an  example  of  Jasper,  in 
whose  cabin  the  meeting  was  held  ;  of  July, 
who  read  the  paper  ;  and  of  the  man  Randall, 
whom  Mr.  Lanny  heard  praying  to  the  Al 
mighty  to  hasten  the  time  and  send  them  a 


r  =  o  SHE  LOVED  A    BAILOR. 

Moses  to  lead  them  into  freedom.  Such 
impiety  !  Such  presumption  is  abominable  1 
Flogging  is  too  small  a  punishment  for  it." 

"  Perhaps  the  Almighty  did  not  think  it  was 
impiety,  Nigel.  If  slaves  believe  themselves 
to  be  wronged — if  they  are  '  weary  and  heavy 
laden,'  you  know  who  said,  '  Come  unto  me.'  " 

Then  Nigel  walked  to  the  window  and 
closed  it,  and  to  the  door  and  looked  along  the 
corridor  for  listeners.  When  he  came  back  to 
his  wife's  side,  his  face  was  black  and  stern 
with  anger.  "  Jane,"  he  said,  taking  her 
hands  in  a  firm  grip,  and  looking  her  steadily 
in  the  face,  "you  must  understand  at  once 
that  such  talk  is  wicked  and  ruinous." 

"  It  is  from  the  Bible.  You  go  to  church 
every  Sunday." 

"  Do  you  want  to  kill  me?  I  shall  be  held 
accountable  for  your  words  and  deeds.  Lanny 
will  not  speak  to  you,  but  he  will  say  to  me, 
'  Mr.  Forfar,  your  wife  called  me  a  scoundrel 
and  a  sneak.'  ' 

"  He  is  a  scoundrel  and  a  sneak." 

"  But,  Jane,  see  what  a  position  you  put  me 
in,  if  I  repudiate  what  my  own  wife  says.  If 
I  do  not,  I  must  answer  your  words  at  the  risk 
of  my  life.  Lanny  will  certainly  challenge 
me." 

Jane  sat  silent  on  the  edge  of  her  bed,  one 
bare  foot  tapping  the  floor  with  a  passionate 
rapidity. 


THE  BROAD  GATEWAY  OF  WRONG.      221 

"  You  have  yet  to  learn  that  Southern 
people  cannot  be  tampered  with  even  in  looks 
or  words.  Listen,  and  I  will  tell  you  how 
promptly  these  ungrateful  conspirators  were 
punished.  The  '  prayer-meeting' — as  they 
called  it — broke  up  at  nine  o'clock.  Before 
ten,  Jasper  had  received  fifty  lashes,  Randall 
fifty,  and  July  thirty.  She  was  insensible  at 
the  thirtieth,  or  she  would  have  received  ten 
more." 

"  Oh,  the  poor  little  one  !  God  pity  her  I 
Thirty  lashes  with  those  brutal  cowhides!  A 
child  eleven  years  old  !  Nigel  Forfar,  it  was  a 
he  llish  act !  How  could  God  permit  it  ?  " 

"  Mrs.  Paget  was  exceedingly  reasonable. 
If  the  child  would  have  told  who  gave  her  the 
paper,  she  would  have  got  off  with  a  much 
slighter  punishment." 

"  She  wouldn't  tell  ?  " 

"A  devil  of  stuDbomriess  was  in  her;  she 
would  have  died  under  the  lash — but  she  would 
not  tell.  If  she  would  have  spoken,  the  rascal 
might  have  now  been  in  our  hands." 

"  The  nobile  child  !     The  little  martyr  !  " 

"  Jane,  do  keep  your  senses.  Remember 
this.  God  has  placed  everyone,  black  and  white, 
in  the  position  he  wishes  them  to  fill.  It  is 
flat  rebellion  against  God  to  want  to  get  out  of 
it.  God  put  men  and  women  in  slavery  ;  when 
they  plan  to  escape  from  it  they  plot  against 
God,  and  <hey  deserve  punishment." 


222  SHE   LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

"  TJhen  every  white  man  who  plans  to  be 
come  rich  when  he  is  poor,  or  honorable  when 
his  is  mean,  plots  against  God.  Nigel,  you 
cannot  make  me  believe  that  wrong  is  right." 

"  No.  I  suppose  you  will  not  hold  your 
tongue  until  I  am  shot  for  its  license.  My 
God  !  "  he  cried,  smiting  his  hands  together, 
"why  did  I  do  it !  " 

"  For  money,  sir.  You  married  me  for 
money." 

"  I  was  not  thinking  of  you."  Then  he  flung 
the  door  open,  and  left  the  room  in  a  passion  ; 
and  Jane  began  to  dress  herself,  weeping  bit 
terly,  and  talking  to  herself  as  she  did  so  in  low 
but  impetuous  words.  She  had  not  thought  of 
calling  Palma,  the  need  of  action  was^  so  impera 
tive.  But  ere  her  toilet  was  completed,  Palma 
entered  with  a  cup  of  coffee.  Jane  looked  at 
her  with  a  steady  compassion,  The  girl  was 
beside  herself  with  grief.  Her  eyes  were 
swollen,  her  pallor  had  the  grayness  of  ashes, 
her  hands  trembled  so  violently  that  there  was 
danger  of  the  service  falling  from  them. 

Jane  took  it  from  her,  set  it  on  the  table, 
and  then  turned  to  the  heart-broken  girl  and 
clasped  her  hands.  She  began  to  cry  again, 
and  her  sobs  shook  her  as  a  reed  is  shaken  in  a 
tempest.  The  next  moment  Jane's  arms  were 
round  her;  they  were  weeping  and  sobbing 
together. 

"  My  little  July  !  My  darling  sister  !  I  would 


THE  BROAD  GATEWAY  OF  WRONG.      223 

have  taken  the  flogging  for  her — oh,  how 
gladly  !  "  * 

"  Can  you  get  near  her,  Palma  ?  " 

"  I  have  been  to  her.  Toby  came  at  mid 
night,  woke  me  out  of  sleep,  and  told  me.  I 
went  in  the  dark — across  fields.  She  was  just 
coming  to  her  senses — her  little  back  and 
shoulders  torn  and  bleeding.  I  nursed  her  till 
I  dared  stay  no  longer.  Oh,  Miss  Jane,  if  I 
could  tell  you  all !  if  I  could  tell  you  all !  " 

Such  comfort  as  Jane  could  give  she  gave  ; 
such  help  as  she  could  send  she  sent.  Night 
after  night  Palma  crossed  the  fields  in  the  dark, 
thanking  God  that  there  was  darkness  to  hide 
her,  praying  to  him,  as  she  ran,  for  protection 
against  the  snakes  she  dreaded,  and  the  loos 
ened  dogs,  and  the  still  more  dangerous  white 
men  who  might  meet  and  question  her. 

No  more  words  on  the  subject  passed  between 
Nigel  and  his  wife.  He  had  really  used  the 
argument  most  likely  to  influence  Jane — the 
assurance  that  he  would-be  held  responsible 
for  her  words  and  acts — and  he  understood  that 
it  would  be  sufficient  to  make  her  prudent  in 
the  expression  of  her  opinions  for  the  future. 
For  he  had  the  greatest  confidence  in  the  affec 
tion  of  his  wife  for  him.  It  never  entered  his 
head  that  women  like  Jane  Keteltas  love  per 
manently  only  what  they  respect.  But  though 
the  subject  was  not  referred  to,  Jane  knew  that 
it  was  stirring  the  community  to  its  depths. 


J24  SHE  LOVED  A    SAfLOR. 

Every  planter  in  the  vicinity  had  some  similar 
•experience.  Every  stranger  in  town  was  sus 
pected  of  abolition  motives,  and  Jane  was 
aware  that  Nigel  was  watching  his  slaves  night 
and  day. 

This  event  occurred  at  the  end  of  August. 
Nearly  three  weeks  after  it  she  was  one  day 
very  sick  and  fevered.  It  was  a  terribly  hot 
afternoon,  and  the  whole  house  seemed  to  be 
waiting  for  it  to  pass  away.  Palma  lay  on  a 
pallet  by  Jane's  bedside  in  a  deep  sleep.  The 
girl  was  worn  out  by  her  night  flights  and 
vigils,  and  Jane,  though  she  wanted  fresh 
water  imperatively,  did  not  like  to  awaken  her. 
She  put  slippers  on  her  bare  feet,  and  went 
•down-stairs  to  the  dining-room.  She  saw  no 
one  and  she  heard  no  one.  Nigel  usually  took 
his  siesta  on  the  eastern  corner  of  the  piazza. 
It  was  well  shaded  by  vines,  and  in  the  early 
part  of  the  afternoon  the  coolest  spot  to  be 
found.  A  window  that  lighted  a  small  hall 
looked  upon  this  shady  corner :  it  was,  of 
course,  open,  but  the  green  outside  blinds  were 
closed.  A  momentary  curiosity  seized  her; 
she  wished  to  know  if  Nigel  was  there  ;  if  so, 
and  he  was  awake,  she  would  ask  him  to  prepare 
for  her  one  of  the  cool,  refreshing  sherry  cob 
blers  he  prided  himself  upon  concocting. 

As  she  approached  the  window  she  heard 
voices — Nigel's  and  that  of  a  stranger.  The 
words,  "  Palma's  brothers,"  arrested  her  atten 
tion.  She  wondered  what  ne\"  f.-^..Ki,=. 


THE  BROAD  GATEWAY  OF  WRONG.      225 

coming  to  Palma  through  her  brothers.  And 
she  was  a  little  curious  also,  for  Palma  had 
never  told  her  that  she  had  brothers.  At  first 
her  attitude  was  indeterminate  and  only 
slightly  interested  ;  but  gradually  she  forgot 
everything  in  the  mere  act  and  tension  of  lis 
tening.  Her  face  was  flushed  with  scorn,  her 
small  hands  clenched,  her  long,  loosened,  fair 
hair  seemed  to  radiate  anger  and  emotion. 

With  tightly  shut  lips  she  went  up-stairs, 
making  no  effort  to  disguise  her  presence  ;  at 
that  moment  quite  indifferent  as  to  whether 
Nigel  knew  or  did  not  know  she  had  been  a 
witness  to  the  bargain  he  had  been  making. 

As  she  re-entered  the  room  she  turned  the 
key  in  the  door,  went  to  Palma,  and  awakened 
her.  The  girl  was  evidently  used  to  sudden 
demands  upon  her  intelligence.  She  sat  up 
instantly,  with  an  expression  at  once  cautious 
and  intent.  Jane  had,  thrown  herself  upon  the 
bed,  and  she  beckoned  Palma  to  her  side. 

"  Have  you  two  brothers,  Palma?  Are  they 
in  New  York  ?" 

The  questions  were  asked  in  a  whisper,  and 
the  girl,  with  a  white,  terrified  face,  answered 
them  with  an  affirmative  nod  of  the  head. 

"  Do  you  know  a  man  called  Wilkins  ?  " 

"  A  slave  trader,  a  slave  hunter." 

It  was  now  Jane's  turn  to  nod. 

"  My  God  !  Miss  Jane,  what  is  he  going  to 
do?" 

"Going    to    New   York    for   your    brothers. 


226  SHE   LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

He  is  to  take  them  to  New  Orleans  and  sell 
them  there." 

Palma  was  stricken  dumb.  She  stood  still 
looking  at  Jane,  as  if  doubting  her  senses. 

"  Do  you  know  where  they  are  ?  " 

"With  a  man  called  Parker;  he  keeps  a  store 
in  William  Street.  I  wrote  to  them  there 
often  when  master  was  away.  Can  Wilkins 
take  them  in  New  York?  Oh,  Miss  Jane,  are 
they  also  in  danger  of  this  hell  ?" 

"  If  they  are  not  freed,  I  fear  they  are.  But 
they  can  be  warned — they  must  be  warned.  I 
will  find  a  way  to  do  it.  Palma,  how  do  they 
come  to  be  in  New  York  ?  " 

"  My  father  sent  them  North  to  be  educated 
— he  sent  me  also,  and  little  July,  but — oh,  I 
dare  not  tell  you,  Miss  Jane !  I  dare  not ! 
Master  Nigel  would  kill  me — he  said  he  would 
give  me  one  hundred  if  I  did — half  a  hundred 
would  kill  me — one  lash  would  kill  me.  I 
should  die  of  the  shame  and  the  injustice." 

"  He  shall  not  touch  you.  I  swear  he  shall 
not,  unless  he  kill  me  first.  Oh,  I  have  heard 
enough  ;  you  may  freely  tell  me  all  now.  And 
he  shall  not  hurt  your  brothers.  I  have  friends 
in  New  York.  I  will  send  them  word.  Come 
close  to  me,  Palma.  You  must  tell  me  all 
now,  and  speak  very  softly.  This  is  a  thing 
for  you  and  me  ;  and  no  one  else  must  know 
it." 


CHAPTER    XII. 

THE   HAND   OF   WOMAN. 

'  '  Well,  then,  dear  mistress,  since  I  see  that  them. 
Being  human,  hast  a  human  heart,  and  knowest 
No  stubborn  purpose,  I  will  tell  thee  all, 
The  whole  truth,  nothing  concealing." 

— Maidens  of  Trachis* 

"  Throned  in  the  vaulted  heart,  his  dread  resort, 
Inexorable  Conscience  holds  his  court  ; 
With  still,  small  voice  the  plots  of  guilt  disarms, 
Bares  his  masked  brow,  his  lifted  arm  alarms. 
Hear  him,  ye  tyrants  !  hear  this  truth  sublime  : 
'  He  who  allows  oppression  shares  the  crime.'  " 

THE  dazzling  sunshine — the  hot  mid-after 
noon.  If  Jane  and  Palma  had  thought  of 
fit  time  and  circumstance,  they  would  not,  per 
haps,  have  chosen  such  an  hour  for  a  tragical 
confidence.  But  when  the  heart  is  dominated 
by  a  great  sorrow  it  is  above  nature;  it  even 
in  some  measure  fits  nature  to  its  own  mood. 
And  to  Jane  the  very  monotony  of  the  splen 
did  sunshine — the  quivering  of  the  air  in  the 
great  heat  and  the  buzzing  of  the  myriads  of 
flies  and  insects  who  delighted  in  it — had  be 
come  an  almost  intolerable  oppression  and  de 
pression.  It  seemed  fitting  enough  to  her  that 
words  of  horror  and  wropg  should  pervade  the 


228  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

hot,  tainted  air,  and  mingle  with  the  buzzing 
of  the  tormenting  insects,  and  steal  away 
through  the  closed  blinds,  beyond  the  melan 
choly  garden,  into  the  sullen  shadows  of  the 
swamp. 

She  'drew  Palma  close  to  her  side;and,  taking 
her  hand,  said,  "  Who  was  your  father,  Palma  ?  " 

"  Master  Stephen  Forfar." 

"  My  husband's  father  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Miss  Jane." 

"Then  you  are  my  husband's  sister."  She 
looked  at  the  girl  with  eyes  bright  and  shining, 
and  full  of  a  fierce  inquiry  after  the  truth. 

"  His  slave.  Miss  Jane." 

"  I  say  his  sister  ;  and  July  is  his  sister.  Yet 
he  could  rejoice  in  the  child's  suffering,  and 
never  feel  one  thrill  of  admiration  for  her 
loyalty!  And  this  man  is  my  husband!  the 
father  of  my  unborn  child  !  Palma,  I  am  in  an 
agony  of  horror  and  shame." 

The  girl  sat  still,  with  dropped  eyes.  She 
had  drawn  her  hand  out  of  Jane's  hand  and 
clasped  them  together  on  her  knee.  Her  whole 
attitude  was  one  of  self-restraint.  It  said  as 
plainly  as  words,  "  This  sorrow  and  shame  is 
mine.  I  do  not  wish  you  to  take  any  part  in 
it." 

"  Palma,  who  was  your  mother  ?  " 

"  She  was  called  Tatelle  Revel ;  and  was  born 
on  the  Revel  place,  near  New  Orleans.  She 
was  nearly  white,  and  was  well  taught  and  well 


THE  HAND   OF    WOMAN.  229 

reared.  But  when  she  was  twenty  years  old 
Master  Revel  died,  and  the  Madame  sold  the 
slaves  and  went  to  Paris  to  live.  Master 
Stephen  Forfar  was  in  New  Orleans  at  the 
time,  and  he  bought  my  mother  for  nurse  to 
Master  Nigel,  whose  mother  died  when  he  was 
born.  She  was  very  fond  of  Master  Nigel,  and 
very  good  to  him.  Old  Master  loved  her  as 
his  life,  and  for  twenty-two  years  she  lived  here 
as  mistress  of  everything.  She  had  four  chil 
dren — my  brothers  Steve  and  Alexander,  July, 
and  myself.  The  boys  were  sent  to  a  school 
in  Ohio  before  they  were  ten  years  old ;  and 
they  have  never  come  back.  July,  and  I  also, 
were  sent  there ;  but  three  years  ago  I  wanted 
to  see  mother  so  much,  and  July  fretted  so 
continually  for  her,  that  I  came  down  the  river 
again.  We  were  to  go  back,  father  said,  in 
September,  for  he  always  had  a  fear  about  us  ; 
but  we  thought  little  of  any  danger  then.  It 
is  not  my  father's  fault  we  are  slaves.  He  had 
given  my  mother  free  papers  for  herself  and  all 
her  children — put  them  into  her  hands,  and 
told  her  to  keep  them  as  her  life,  because  he 
knew  he  had  trouble  at  his  heart,  and  might 
die  at  any  moment. 

"When  I  brought  July  home  three  summers 
ago  she  was  eight  years  old,  and  I  was  sixteen. 
I  had  been  in  a  good  school  for  nine  years,  and 
had  learnt  all  they  could  teach  me.  I  wanted 
to  go  to  France  and  study  music  and  singing, 


230  SHE  LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

and  father  and  mother  were  pleased  with  the 
idea.  We  had  talked  over  my  plans  one 
morning,  and  I  was  busy  all  the  rest  of  the 
day  sewing  on  the  dresses  I  was  to  take  with 
me.  I  was  so  happy,  I  sang  all  day  long.  At 
nightfall  mother  looked  into  my  room,  and 
told  me  I  had  done  enough.  It  was  her 
custom  to  dress  very  handsomely  for  the  even 
ing,  and  I  can  see  her  yet  in  her  black  silk 
gown,  and  gold  bracelets,  and  a  black  lace 
shawl  folded  around  her.  I  threw  down  my 
work  and  began  to  wash  my  face.  Suddenly  I 
heard  a  shriek.  Such  a  shriek,  Miss  Jane,  you 
cannot  imagine  !  It  makes  my  ears  ache  to 
remember  it.  July  came  screaming  up-stairs; 
I  ran  to  meet  her,  and  saw  two  men  carrying 
Master  Stephen  to  his  bed." 

"Your  father,  you  mean?" 

"Yes.  He  was  dead.  My  mother  was  in 
sensible.  Master  Nigel  was  with  the  body.  I 
stayed  with  mother.  It  was  some  hours  before 
she  came  to  herself.  Her  words  to  me  were, 
'Palma!  Palma !  The  red  box  in  my  trunk! 
The  red  box  !  Go  for  it ;  quick,  quick  !  * 

"  I  knew  what  she  meant,  and  my  own  heart 
sank  with  terror.  I  was  shocked  that  I  had 
not  thought  of  it  before.  Scarce  taking 
breath,  I  flew  up-stairs.  Mother's  room  was 
open,  her  trunk  was  open,  but  the  red  box  was 
there.  Mother  was  sitting  up  in  bed  watching 
for  me.  I  shall  never  forget  the  anguish  of 


THE  HAND    OF    WOMAN.  231 

anxiety  on  it.  When  I  held  up  the  box,  she 
clasped  her  hands  and  fell  back  and  began  to 
cry  and  to  thank  God.  I  put  the  box  under 
her  pillow,  and  she  sobbed  herself  to  sleep  in  a 
passion  of  grateful  prayer.  Miss  Jane  !  Miss 
Jane  !  The  box  was  empty  !  " 

"  Oh,  Palma  !  Palma  !  " 

"  Our  free  papers  were  in  it — they  were 
gone  !  We  never  saw  them  again." 

At  these  words  Jane  gave  a  little  shriek,  and 
turned  her  face  into  her  pillow.  The  girl 
stooped  toward  her  and  whispered  : 

"  The  box  had  been  opened — the  papers 
were  stolen — we  were  slaves  at  Master  Nigel's 
mercy.  After  the  funeral  mother  tried  to  talk 
to  him.  He  sent  her  to  the  kitchen.  In 
another  week  he  sent  her  to  the  slave  market. 
I  stole  away  one  afternoon  and  ran  all  the 
way  into  Memphis  to  see  her  there." 

"  Palma  !  Palma  !   how  could  you  bear  it  ?  " 

"  She  had  the  rough  striped  dress  of  a  field 
hand  on.  She  had  grown  old.  She  was  going 
mad.  I  had  to  tell  her  who  I  was.  O  God  !  If 
I  had  never  seen  her  so,  I  might  bear  it  better! 
My  mother,  my  dear,  good,  gentle  mother! 
I  shall  never  see  her  again  !  Never,  never  !  " 

"  And  now  he  wants  to  sell  his  brothers  ! — 
his  father's  own  children.  God  in  heaven,  how 
can  I  trust  him  with  my  child  ?  Palma,  I  am 
going  to  write  to  my  friend  in  New  York.  I 
will  not  let  any  one  commit  such  a  crime." 


232  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

She  sat  down  at  once  and  began  to  write  to 
Virginia.  It  was  a  shame  and  a  trial  to  her. 
If  it  had  been  possible,  she  would  have  hid  her 
husband's  share  in  the  crime,  and  she  did  beg 
Virginia  to  remember  that  he  was  not  a  sinner 
above  all  others  in  the  matter.  "  No  one  here 
would  blame  him  for  it,"  she  wrote  ;  "  it  is  the 
outcome  of  an  institution  radically  wrong." 
And  she  vented  on  the  institution  the  scorn 
and  the  passion  of  anger  she  felt  for  the  indi 
vidual  sin. 

To  get  the  letter  safely  posted  was  the  next 
thing  to  be  done.  She  asked  Nigel  to  go  into 
Memphis  with  her  the  next  morning;  "she 
required  a  number  of  small  articles,"  she  said, 
"  no  one  could  get  but  herself." 

"  Why  not  take  Palma?  "  he  asked.  "  Cato 
\  ill  drive  you  in  perfect  safety,  and  Palma  will 
be  of  more  use  in  shopping  than  I  can  be.  I 
have  to  get  money  to-morrow  for  a  man  who 
is  going  away  to  do  some  business  for  me." 

She  accepted  the  change  without  apparent 
feeling,  but  she  was  inwardly  delighted.  Wil- 
kins  could  not  leave  till  Nigel  had  got  money 
for  him.  So,  then,  the  letter  would  have  at 
least  a  day's  advantage  in  time.  Thus  far 
events  were  on  their  side.  It  was  not  until  the 
letter  was  posted  that  she  remembered  Virginia 
had  been  at  the  White  Sulphur  Springs  with 
her  Bather  since  the  beginning  of  June.  She 
did  not  know  whether  she  had  returned  to 


THE  HAND    OF    ll'OMAN.  233 

New  York.  A  sudden  resolve  to  write  to  the 
boys  themselves  came  to  her,  but  was  as  sud 
denly  put  aside.  Any  letter  directed  to  them 
would  probably  be  detained.  Nigel  would  not 
have  forgotten  that  precaution.  She  had  done 
her  best.  She  very  wisely  let  well  alone,  and 
did  not  embarrass  the  Power  behind  her  by  a 
superfluity  of  events  to  control. 

Her  faith  in  the  unknown  was  not  misplaced. 
The  letter  arrived  at  the  Mason  House  five 
minutes  before  Virginia  came  back  to  it,  after 
nearly  four  months'  absence.  She  did  not, 
however,  open  it  at  once.  Nelly  had  a  festival 
lunch  ready,  and  a  budget  of  household  news 
to  tell  Virginia  as  she  prepared  herself  for  it  ; 
and  they  had  no  sooner  sat  down  to  it  than 
Mr.  Keteltas  joined  them. 

"  My  friend,"  he  said,  taking  the  Major's 
hand,  "  you  are  welcome  home.  New  York  has 
been  doing  badly  in  your  absence.  There  was 
one  good  man  the  less  in  it." 

"Sit  down  and  eat  with  us,  Mr.  Keteltas." 
"  I  will.     Many  things  have  happened  since 
you  went  away,  and  I  can  give  you  the  truth 
on  all  matters.     I  have  experienced — yes." 
"About  the  United  States  Bank  ?" 
"  Who    can    speak   with    more   knowledge  ? 
Congress  had  a  wasted  session  of  seven  months. 
Jackson  is  as  much  master  of  the  situation  as 
he  was  at  the  beginning.     In  a  word,  opposi 
tion  to  him   is  useless.     You  will  see  that  in 


234  SHE   LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

November  '  Hurrah  for  Jackson  '   will  be  the 
cry,  against  which  nothing  will  prevail." 
"  Right  always  prevails,  my  friend." 
"Yes,  yes  ;  but  if  God  will  not,  man  cannot. 
And  what  is  to  be  done  with  these  abolition 
fanatics  if  He  will  not  take  them  in  hand?" 

"  I  heard  there  had  been  trouble  in  New 
York." 

"  In  New  York,  in  Boston,  in  Philadelphia. 
Newark  and  Norwich  have  the  same  spirit.  In 
the  latter  towns,  if  a  negro  appears  there  is  a 
riot,  rrhese  Irishmen,  who  are  always  talking 
of  the  slavery  of  Ireland  and  the  tyranny  of 
England,  run  a  '  nagur,'  as  they  call  him,  down 
like  a  mad  dog.  j  I  thought  they  would  burn 
the  city  on  the  loth  of  July." 

"  They  began  in  the  theater,  did  they  not?" 
"Yes.  An  English  actor  there  put  them  in 
a  passion  ;  they  wouldn't  have  an  English  actor, 
and  as  England  had  just  freed  her  slaves  in  the 
West  Indies,  they  were  all  for  slavery ;  and 
besides,  as  I  heard  one  saying,  if  the  '  nagur  ' 
was  free  he  would  be  coming  up  North  and 
taking  the  bit  of  work  out  of  their  own  hands. 
So,  having  done  what  damage  they  could  to  the 
theater,  they  resolved  to  express  their  opinion 
in  their  usual  way  on  the  abolition  question. 
Some  one  called  out  'The  abolitionists,'  some 
one  else  '  Tappan  '  and  '  Rose  Street,'  and 
away  they  went,  yelling  like  a  regiment  of 
«ievils.  They  fired  Tappan's  house,  and  while 


THE  HAND   OF    WOMAN.  235 

they  were  burning  his  pictures  and  furniture 
the  firemen  came  thundering  down  upon  them. 
Imagine  now  the  engines  41  and  37  driving  the 
mob  before  them  !  The  engines  had  been 
running  a  race  all  the  way  to  Rose  Street — a 
neck-and-neck  affair — and  the  noise  of  the 
crowds  cheering  them  all  the  way  there  could 
be  heard  even  above  the  shouts  of  the 
mob." 

"  What  then  ?  " 

"  The  firemen  took  possession  of  Tappan's 
house,  and  the  mob  went  for  Rev.  Mr.  Ludlow's 
church.  Well,  he  deserved  it.  He  had  been 
preaching  abolition.  That  was  not  his  duty, 
Major,  nor  yet  the  doctrine  he  was  licensed  to 
preach.  They  were  five  thousand  strong  when 
they  got  to  the  church  in  Macdougal  Street. 
They  all  had  paving-stones  in  their  big,  dirty 
hands,  and  were  striking  and  shouting  as  they 
ran,  'All  together.'  If  they  had  met  a  black 
man  they  would  have  torn  him  to  pieces." 

"  How  were  they  checked  ?  " 

"The  National  Guard  was  called  out,  and  I 
saw  it  file  down  Macdougal  Street  and  make  it 
like  a  lane  of  steel.  The  stones  flung  by  the 
mob  struck  a  shower  of  sparks  from  the  bayo 
nets  and  the  barrels  of  the  muskets,  but  the 
Guard  kept  their  tempers  wonderfully.  Only 
two  Sundays  before  there  had  been  a  riot  be 
tween  negroes  and  whites  at  the  Chatham 
Street  Chapel.  In  fact,  there  have  been  so 


236  SHE  LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

many  riots  my  friend,  you  would  think  rioting 
was  the  solid  business  of  the  city." 

"  We  have  heard  little  or  nothing  of  these 
things.  You  can  understand  that  at  the  White 
Sulphur  Springs  abolition  was  an  unmention 
able  subject,"  said  Virginia.  "  I  think  it  would 
have  been  a  brave  man  who  would  have 
spoken  the  word  in  the  presence  of  those 
proud  Virginians  and  Carolinians.  But  there 
was  considerable  talk  about  a  Dr.  Graham,  and 
some  new  way  of  grinding  flour  which  he  pro 
poses.  It  was  said  that  Boston  ladies  were  at 
daggers'  points  about  it,  and  that  the  longest 
friendships  had  been  broken  on  the  subject  of 
Dr.  Graham's  bread." 

"  Speaking  generally,  that  is  perhaps  true. 
The  daily  bread  has  been  a  daily  fight  in  many 
families.  In  Newburyport,  Dr.  Graham's  op 
ponents  went  from  door  to  door,  showing  spec 
imens  of  his  execrable  compound  of  bran  and 
brickbats." 

"  That  was  not  fair,  Mr.  Keteltas,  unless 
they  let  Dr.  Graham  make  and  bake  the 
bread." 

"  Well,  my  dear,  perhaps  so.  But  if  the 
Bostonians  take  to  Graham  bread,  they  have 
consolations.  My  clerk  was  in  Boston  early  in 
August,  and  he  saw  a  cargo  of  plover  from 
Cape  Cod  landed  there  ;  fine,  full-breasted 
birds,  sold  at  a  penny  apiece.  Now  even  a 
toast  of  Dr.  Graham's  bread  could  be  eat  with 


THE  HAND   OF    WOMAN.  237 

a  broiled  plover  on  it,  eh,  my  dear  ?  But  1 
suppose  you  had  Andrew  Jackson  to  seasori  all 
conversation  with  ?  " 

Virginia  laughed.  "  Mr.  Keteltas,  how  many 
lives  would  have  saved  my  father  if  he  had 
expressed  his  opinion  of  the  President  to  those 
fiery  South  Carolinians?  I  assure  you,  fifty 
would  not  have  lasted  him  through  the  sum 
mer." 

"  Could  not  talk  of  abolition,  nor  of  Jackson  ! 
What  else,  then,  but  Graham  bread  ?  Was  it 
the  staple?  " 

"Oh,  no!  Our  talk  was  of  horses — and 
Texas." 

"  Texas!  I  dare  be  bound.  Colonel  Austin 
is  back  there." 

"And  Sam  Houston  is  going!  There  was 
great  excitement  at  the  Springs  on  the  Texas 
subject.  It  is  said  the  President  quietly  en 
courages  the  Americans.  We  spoke  of  him, 
however,  as  '  the  Government.'  " 

"  I  have  not  the  least  doubt  the  President 
encourages  the  Texans.  Anything  that  prom 
ises  a  fight  will  be  indorsed  by  Andrew  Jack 
son.  The  United  States  Bank  will  be  under 
his  feet  soon  ;  and  he  is  getting  another  fight 
ready.  Why  cannot  he  let  the  Mexicans 
alone  ?  " 

"  Come,  come,  Mr.  Keteltas !  why  cannot 
the  Mexicans  let  the  Americans  alone  !  " 

"  Let  it  pass.     I  will  not  talk  on  the  subject. 


238  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

I  have  had  trouble  enough  this  summer  on  it. 
My  Harry  is  Texas-mad,  and,  instead  of  stick 
ing  to  his  concordance,  he  is  filling  his  mind 
with  Stephen  Austin  and  Sam  Houston.  If 
men  are  to  bring  up  sons,  the  Lord  Almighty 
ought  to  let  fathers  order  the  kind  they  can 
manage.  Harry  is  going  to  be  a  runaway  min 
ister.  I  feel  it." 

"  My  dear  Mr.  Keteltas,  we  must  not  dis 
courage  men  who  are  carrying  freedom  into 
the  great  West." 

"  I  suppose  not,  even  if  they  are  Mormons. 
Speaking  of  their  colony,  let  me  tell  you  it  is 
going  to  pieces.  They  are  getting  discouraged 
with  Joe  Smith.  He  promised  to  save  his  fol 
lowers  from  the  cholera,  and  he  cannot  do  it. 
They  are  dying  miserably  in  great  numbers, 
and  a  still  greater  number  are  deserting.  It 
has  been  a  strange  summer,  full  of  unhappy  in 
cidents.  Only  last  month  all  the  stonecutters 
in  New  York  were  on  the  riot  because  the  stone 
for  the  university  is  being  cut  by  the  convicts 
at  Sing  Sing." 

"  Well,  I  know  not  the  right  and  wrong  of 
that  subject,  Mr.  Keteltas." 

"  Simply  this  :  has  the  Government  the  same 
right  as  individuals  to  buy  in  the  cheapest  mar 
ket  ?  But  we  had  another  riot  last  month, 
whose  right  you  understand  very  well — the 
Irish  and  the  Americans  have  been  fighting 
again.  It  was  mostly  confined  to  the  Five 


THE  HAND   OF    WOMAN.  239 

Points    district,    but    might    have    been    very 
serious/' 

"That  quarrel  is  a  standing  one,  always 
ready  to  lift.  What  provoked  it?  " 

"  The  Irish  began  to  raise  an  Irish  regiment 
to  be  called  the  O'Connell  Guards,  and  the 
Americans  would  not  let  them  do  it." 

"  Very  proper.  What  do  we  want  with  Dan 
O'Connell  here  ?  We  have  American  patriots 
in  plenty  to  name  American  regiments  after." 

"  I  think,  father,  we  were  well  out  of  these 
troubles.  Have  you  heard  from  Jane  lately, 
Mr.  Keteltas  ?  " 

His  face  clouded  suddenly,  and  he  hesitated 
a  moment.  "  I  do  not  know  whether  I  have 
heard  from  Jane  or  not.  I  can  scarcely  believe 
Jane  would  write  me  letters  so  gloomy  and  dis 
satisfied.  She  must  be  sick,  or  under  a  spell, 
for  she  is  not  herself.  I  was  in  hopes  you  had 
something  pleasant  to  tell  me  about  the  girl  ; 
thought  perhaps  you  would  go  and  see  her 
when  you  were  so  far  south." 

"  I  did  think  of  it,  sir,  but,  as  you  know,  Mr. 
Forfar  does  not  like  me." 

"  You  liked  Jane  once." 

"  I  love  Jane  yet,  sincerely." 

There  was  a  painful  pause,  a  certain  stiffner 
and  hesitation.  John  Paul  sighed  heavily,  and 
rose.  "  I  will  see  you  to-morrow  about  busi 
ness,  Major.  It  is  on  a  better  footing,  I  am 
happy  to  say.  Jackson  is  pulling  down  ou< 


240  SHE    LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

great  financial  temple,  but  Americans  are  not 
Philistines.  I  think  we  shall  crawl  out  of  the 
ruins  with  nothing  worse  than  a  few  bruises. 
Good-afternoon." 

He  went  away  rather  sadly,  and  Virginia 
said  :  "  I  have  a  letter  from  Jane  in  my 
pocket,  father,  but  I  have  not  yet  read  it,  and 
I  could  not  bring  myself  to  name  it  to  Mr 
Keteltas." 

"It  was  wiser  and  kinder  not,  until  you 
knew  what  you  had  to  read.  I  am  very  tired, 
Virginia.  Excuse  me  if  I  go  to  my  room 
until  to-morrow.  For  then  I  shall  need  all  the 
strength  I  have  ;  many  things  will  call  for  my 
strictest  attention." 

It  was  then  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
and  Virginia,  left  to  her  own  devices,  talked 
some  time  with  Nelly  about  the  household, 
and  then,  in  a  rather  listless  fashion,  took 
Jane's  letter  from  her  pocket.  She  lifted  her 
brows  slightly  at  its  length,  for  she  had  grown 
a  little  tired  of  Jane's  monotonous  grievances  ; 
not  that  she  had  lost  interest  in  whatever 
interested  her  friend,  but  she  was  weary  of 
giving  nothing  but  words.  For  the  troubles 
we  can  practically  help  do  not  wear  out  our 
sympathy;  it  is  trouble  which  we  must  pas 
sively  see,  or  hear  of,  that  exhausts  compassion 

But  this  letter  of  Jane's  struck  a  different 
key  in  its  very  opening:  "  Virginia,  my  dearest 
friend,  help  me  !  Help  the  innocent  and  op- 


THE  HAND   OF    WOMAN.  241 

pressed  out  of  what  is  worse  than  death  ! 
There  is  only  you — you  only,  to  do  it  !  " 
When  she  had  read  thus  far,  Virginia's  whole 
attitude  had  undergone  a  transformation. 
She  sat  straight  up,  and  there  was  the  reflec 
tion  of  a  soul  thoroughly  attent  on  her  fair, 
serious  face.  She  hastily  scanned  the  letter, 
and  then  went  back  and  read  it  slowly  word 
by  word  ;  horror,  anger,  ineffable  pity  spring 
ing  into  her  large  eyes,  and  covering  her 
cheeks  with  a  burning  blush  of  sympathy. 

When  she  was  thoroughly  mistress  of  the 
situation  which  Jane  had  vividly  described, 
she  stood  up,  and  stood,  still  a  few  minutes, 
thinking  rapidly  over  the  course  she  ought  to 
take.  In  the  first  place,  she  was  sure  it  would 
be  imprudent  to  tell  her  father.  His  assist 
ance  could  be  certainly  predicted  ;  he  would 
shield  the  boys  with  his  o\vn  life,  if  it  were 
necessary.  But  she  remembered  the  trans 
parent  pallor  of  his  face,  his  increasing  feeble 
ness,  his  passionate  partisanship,  and  there 
was  no  telling  into  what  trouble  such  an  in 
terference  with  the  law  might  bring  him. 
She  thought  with  terror  of  the  mobbing  and 
burning  of  the  Tappans'  house  for  a  less 
matter  ;  and  it  did  not  seem  right  to  involve 
her  sick  father  in  so  serious  a  quarrel. 

Then  who  ?  Jane's  own  father  was  surely 
the  right  person  to  interfere.  Would  he  ? 
That  was  very  uncertain.  But  she  must  at 


242  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

least  give  him  the  opportunity  to  do  so. 
There  was  also  no  time  to  be  lost.  The 
slave  hunter  would  follow  the  letter  very 
quickly;  an  hour's  delay  might  be  fatal.  She 
did  not  wait  for  a  carnage,  but  went  with 
rapid  steps  to  the  Keteltas  house.  John 
Paul  was,  as  she  expected,  in  his  garden. 
He  had  put  on  a  homespun  suit  and  a  large 
straw  hat,  and  was  busy  raking  up  the  first 
fall  of  the  maple  leaves.  When  he  saw  Vir 
ginia  he  turned  white,  and  waited  for  her  to 
approach  him. 

"Well,  my  dear,  what  do  you  want?" 

"  Come  into  the  house,  Mr.  Keteltas ;  I 
want  you." 

He  followed  her  without  a  word.  He  felt 
there  was  trouble,  and  no  one  argues  with  that 
call. 

She  read  him  the  letter  all  through,  slowly 
and  carefully,  lifting  her  eyes  very  often  to 
note  what  influence  it  had  on  him.  She  could 
see  nothing.  His  face  was  white  and  speech 
less  as  a  sheet  of  blank  paper.  He  did  not 
make  a  single  remark,  until  she  asked  : 

"  What  will  you  do,  Mr.  Keteltas?  " 

"  Nothing,  my  dear.  Jane  does  not  ask  me 
to  interfere.  She  knows  me  better." 

"  But  these  two  poor  boys  ?  " 

"  I  think  for  my  daughter.  I  am  sorry  for 
the  boys  ;  but  my  daughter  is  my  daughter— 
and  my  duty.  I  cannot  serve  both." 


THE  HAND   OF    WOMAN.  243 

"  Oh,  yes  !  " 

"  Oh,  no  ;  I  tell  you,  I  will  not  interfere  be 
tween  a  man  and  his  wife — never  !  And  also, 
when  that  wife  is  my  own  daughter.  I  will 
say  to  her — 'Think  as  your  husband  thinks; 
do  as  your  husband  does.' ' 

"  If  he  thinks  cruelty,  wrong,  robbery  of 
freedom,  yes,  of  life  ?  If  he  thinks  theft  and 
murder?  " 

"  My  dear,  you  must  talk  reason  to  a  reason 
able  old  man.  These  boys  are  legally  Nigel's 
slaves.  Or  else  they  are  free  men.  If  they  are 
free,  they  must  show  their  free  papers.  If  they 
-We  not  free,  they  must  not  rob  their  owner  of 
vheir  lawful  service." 

"  Lawful  service  !  " 

"  My  dear,  your  scorn  and  anger  is  very 
pretty,  but  it  is  not  papers  and  proofs.  I  am  a 
good  citizen.  I  will  obey  the  laws.  I  am  a 
father.  I  love  my  Jane  more  than  my  life,  so 
I  will  not  help  her  to  disobey  her  husband, 
who  is  to  her  the  manifestation  of  the  law. 
Now,  my  dear,  that  is  all  I  have  to  say  about 
those  two  runaway  slaves." 

"  I  am  sorry  I  told  you." 

"  Yes,  I  am  sorry  too.  Jane  did  not  send 
you  to  me." 

"  At  least  you  will  say  nothing  to  any  one  ?  " 

"  It  is  not  my  business  to  say  anything.  I 
wish  not  to  the  boys  any  evil.  I  cannot  see  it 
to  be  my  duty  to  help  them  ;  nor  yet  to  be  my 


.244  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

duty  to  injure  them.  I  will  think  I  have 
dreamed  all  you  have  read  to  me  and  all  you 
have  said  to  me.  Now  we  are  awake,  and  we 
will  talk  of  some  other  thing." 

"  I  cannot  talk  of  any  other  thing,  Mr. 
Keteltas." 

"  Well,  then,  my  dear,  we  will  say  '  good- 
afternoon  ';  and  I  shall  be  glad  to  see  you 
when  we  can  have  again  our  nice  talks  about 
the  birds  and  the  flowers.  Come  into  the 
garden  ;  I  will  show  you  my  last  rose.  It  was 
so  beautiful  a  week  ago  !  Then  I  admired  it. 
But  now,  my  dear,  when  it  is  slowly  fading  and 
dying,  it  has  to  me  a  far  truer  beauty.  It  said 
to  me  an  hour  ago — 'Farewell,  John  Paul !  I 
sliall  go  away  on  to-nighf  s  chill  wind?  Then  I 
loved  my  rose,  and  I  stooped  down  and  kissed 
it,  and  its  fragrance — which  is  its  soul,  my 
dear — was  nearly  gone.  I  got  the  least  atom 
on  my  lips." 

He  was  talking  thus  with  a  real  and  not  a 
simulated  affection  as  he  led  Virginia  into  the 
garden.  She  looked  at  him  angrily.  "  I  have 
not  time  to  think  of  roses,  Mr.  Keteltas ;  my 
heart  is  full  of  those  two  boys.  If  I  only  knew 
who  to  go  to,  how  to  save  them  !  " 

He  saw  the  tears  in  her  eyes,  and  he  felt 
that  she  was  at  least  asking  him  for  advice,  but 
he  answered  coldly : 

"  I  cannot  tell  you  who  to  go  to.  I  cannot 
tell  you  how  to  save  any  one.  My  dear,  go 


THE   HAND   OF    WOMAN.  245 

home  and  look  after  your  own  good  father. 
I  will  take  leave  to  say  he  is  not  looking  as 
well  as  he  might  be." 

As  she  hastily  retraced  her  steps  the  public 
clocks  struck  four,  and  she  turned  heartsick  at 
the  sound.  The  hours  were  flying,  and  noth 
ing  done.  Nelly  met  her  with  a  face  all  sym 
pathy  and  loving  reproof.  "You  should  hev 
sent  me,  Miss,  on  any  message  you  hed.  I 
think  I  could  hev  managed  it." 

Then  Virginia  looked  into  her  bright,  strong 
face,  and  thought,  "Why  not?  I  am  sure  she 
can  manage  it."  She  called  Nelly  into  her 
room,  made  her  sit  down,  and  read  her  Jane's 
letter.  There  was  no  chill  of  caution  in  this 
listener,  and  no  want  of  that  upright,  down 
right  sympathy  which  defies  all  reasoning  with. 

"  I  niver  heard  tell,  in  all  my  life,  of  such  a 
bit  of  wickedness.  It  beats  t'  devil  all  to 
pieces.  I'll  go  and  tell  them  two  poor  lads  to 
get  out  of  t'  way.  I'll  go  this  varry  minute,  if 
you  say  so,  Miss." 

"  But  where  must  they  hide  themselves?" 

"Well,  I  should  say  t'  'Arethusa'  would  be 
a  first-rate  place." 

"Oh,  Nelly!  is  the  '  Arethusa '  in  port? 
Are  you  sure  ?  " 

"  Well,  Miss,  she  was  yesterday ;  and  I 
doan't  think  she  will  be  ready  to  sail  until  to 
morrow  ;  maybe  the  next  day  after.  I  saw  the 
captain  last  night.  I  was  standing  at  t'  gate 


24°  SHE   LOT  ED   A    SAILOR. 

watching  for  John  Thomas,  and  he  comes  past 
here.  And  I  dropped  him  a  courtesy,  and  told 
him  I  was  looking  for  you  home  and  partic'lar 
glad  of  it.  And  he  smiled  till  you'd  hev 
thought  it  was  fair  sunshine, and  so  went  down 
Broadway,  varry  quick  like." 

While  Nelly  had  been  speaking,  Virginia 
had  been  thinking.  "  Nelly,  neither  you  nor  I 
can  manage  this  business,  but  Captain  Brad 
ford  can.  Will  you  go  to  the  '  Arethusa ' 
for  me?" 

"To  be  sure  I  will.  I'll  put  on  my  bonnet 
right  away.  What  shall  I  say  to  him  ?  " 

"  I  will  write  to  him,  Nelly." 

"  That  will  be  a  deal  better,  Miss.  I  should 
be  sure  to  say  too  much  or  too  little.  And 
'tis  such  a  strange  story,  he  might  think  I  were 
just  making  it  up." 

"  He  would  never  doubt  your  word,  I  am 
sure,  Nelly." 

"I  doan't  , swear  to  that,  Miss.  Men  are 
mostly  infidels;  you  may  happen  make  them 
see  what  you  could  niver  make  them  believe." 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

READY     TO     PERISH. 

"  Then  spake  the  Lord — '  We  are  not  four,  but  fire ; 
"  He  who  protects  "  is  here.'  " 

"  Nor  lies  the  babe  nearer  the  nursing  place, 
Than  Allah's  smallest  child  to  Allah's  grace." 

— Rosary  of  Islitn. 

"  .  ...  hide  the  outcasts — bewray  not  him  that  wandereth. 
Let  my  outcasts  dwell  with  thee  ....  be  a  covert  to  them 
from  the  face  of  the  spoiler." — Isaiah  xvi.  3,  4. 

AT  that  same  hour  Captain  Bradford  was  on 
the  deck  of  his  ship  giving  orders  about 
the  bestowal  of  certain  pieces  of  cargo.  He 
was  tired  and  a  little  cross.  Nothing  but  the 
sameness  of  every-day  duty  had  come  into  his 
life  since  the  memorable  events  connected  with 
the  election.  When  he  next  reached  New 
York,  June  was  nearly  half  over,  and  Virginia 
and  the  Major  had  left  the  city  for  a  summer 
at  the  White  Sulphur  Springs. 

Jack  also  was  very  busy,  and  Marius  saw 
little  of  him.  Perhaps  he  did  not  greatly  miss 
his  brother  at  this  time.  It  was  a  trial  to  listen 
to  him  when  the  talk  turned  upon  Virginia,  as 
it  was  sure  to  do.  He  could  not  quite  forget 
247 


24*>  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

how  naturally  Jack  had  gone  with  her  to  the 
piano,  and  how  finely  their  voices  had  mingled. 
True,  she  had  shown  him  great  favor,  but  that 
might  be  because  he  was  Jack's  brother.  So 
the  June  visit  to  New  York,  though  he  had 
hoped  something  from  it,  brought  nothing. 
He  did  not  even  see  Nelly.  In  August  things 
had  been  equally  unpropitious.  The  Mason 
house  was  deserted.  Jack  seemed  dull  and 
preoccupied,  and  little  inclined  to  talk  of  them. 
The  weather  was  frightfully  hot,  and  the  riots 
had  made  the  city  very  unpleasant.  He  scarce 
ly  left  his  ship. 

It  was  the  close  of  September  when  he  ar 
rived  again.  He  had  every  reason  to  believe 
the  Masons  would  have  returned  ;  he  hoped 
Jack  and  he  might  come  to  some  better  under 
standing  about  them.  The  weather  was  now 
cool  and  enchanting,  and  the  city  full  of  re 
newed  hope  and  life.  His  spirits  rose  when 
he  reached  Broadway.  He  walked  north  as 
far  as  the  Masons'  residence,  but  he  saw  no 
one  that  night.  As  soon  as  he  returned  to  the 
"Arethusa,"  he  heard  Jack  calling  him.  They 
met  with  all  their  old  frank  affection,  and  as 
soon  as  they  began  to  smoke  Jack  said  : 
"  Marius,  I  am  engaged  to  be  married." 
A  great  roaring  came  into  the  ears  of 
Marius.  His  heart  thumped  against  his  breast. 
He  felt  as  if  all  the  springs  of  life  had  suddenly 
sunk  deeper  than  the  deepest  bed  of  ocean. 


READY    TO  PERISH.  249 

Then  he  knew  no  more  until  he  found  himself 
on  his  bed,  and  felt  that  brandy  was  being 
poured  down  his  throat.  He  struck  the  glass 
away,  and  slowly  raised  himself.  His  first  mate 
and  Jack  stood  by  his  side.  A  kind  of  anger 
came  into  his  heart  and  strengthened  him ; 
then  he  made  a  mockery  of  his  womanish  weak 
ness,  rose  hastily,  and  said,  "  Come,  Jack,  let 
us  finish  our  pipe." 

The  mate  thought  he  had  been  working  too 
hard,  and  Jack  readily  accepted  this  idea. 
'"  You  should  not  do  so,  Marius.  I  have  heard 
father  regret  just  the  same  waste.  Last  time  I 
saw  him  he  said,  '  O  that  I  had  the  strength  I 
wasted  when  I  was  a  young  man  !  ' 

"  Never  mind  my  strength,  Jack.  I  guess  it 
will  last  my  task  out.  You  are  engaged  to  be 
married  ?  How  long  since?" 

"  More  than  a  month  ago." 

"  But  she  was  not  in  New  York  then  ?" 

"  No  ;  I  went  to  see  her." 

"  Is  her  father  satisfied  ?  " 

"Yes;  pretty  well.  Her  mother  says  we  are 
too  young.  Carrie  is  little  over  sixteen." 

"  Her  mother?  Carrie  ?  Who  do  you  mean, 
jack?  Miss  Mason  has  no  mother." 

"  I  am  not  speaking  of  Miss  Mason.  I  gave 
her  up  last  May.  She  was  so  cold  and  unsym 
pathetic  !  A  young  man  cannot  throw  his  love 
away  on  a  marble  statue.  I  went  to  see  her 
one  night  about  three  weeks  after  the  election, 


250  SHE   LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

and  as  long  as  I  talked  of  it,  and  of  you,  she 
was  pleasant  as  sunshine.  But  when  I  tried 
to  turn  the  conversation  upon  my  own  feelings, 
she  evaded  the  subject,  until  I  forced  her  to 
listen.  Then  she  was — well,  not  at  all  as  you 
would  wish  your  future  wife  to  be.  I  made  up 
my  mind  that  night  to  care  no  more  about  her." 

"  Having  once  loved  her,  Jack,  how  could 
you  cease  to  love  her  ?  " 

"  If  a  girl  does  not  care  for  me,  why  should 
I .  care  for  her  ?  The  very  next  night  I  met 
Carrie  Gushing.  She  was  just  from  school,  and 
sweet  and  pretty  as  a  flower.  She  says  she  fell 
in  love  with  me  as  soon  as  she  saw  me ;  and  I 
am  sure  I  did  with  her.  Carrie  is  Mr.  Cushing's 
only  child  ;  she  gets  all  she  wants,  and  it  is  a 
very  happy  thing  for  me  that  I  have  won  her 
favor." 

"You  are  a  lucky  fellow,  Jack,  and  what  you 
have  said  makes  me  very  happy  also." 

"I  should  have  told  you  when  you  were 
here  in  August,  but  I  was  not  quite  sure  then. 
Say,  Marius,  what  time  is  it  ?  I  promised 
Carrie  to  be  there  at  five  o'clock." 

"Then  you  had  better  hurry,  dear  boy, 
Jack  !  "  and  the  single  word  was  so  full  of  affec 
tion  that  the  young  man  could  not  resist  its 
power.  He  threw  his  arms  across  his  brother's 
shoulder,  and  kissed  him  with  the  same  demon 
strative  frankness  he  had  done  when  he  was 
ten  years  old. 


READY   TO   PERISH.  251 

Left  alone,  Marius  permitted  himself  to  give 
way  to  the  physical  weakness  which  had  been 
induced  by  Jack's  phantom  blow.  He  scarcely 
yet  felt  able  to  grasp  the  blessed  thought  that 
he  might  now  love  freely,  love  without  any 
drawback,  love  without  any  sense  of  wrong  or 
selfishness.  But  gradually  the  strength  of  this 
position  comforted  him.  Hope,  that  ever  new 
fine  wine  of  life,  made  his  heart  glad  ;  he  lifted 
up  his  face  as  he  had  not  done,  for  many 
months.  He  was  just  beginning  to  think  it 
possible  to  call  upon  Major  Mason  and  Vir 
ginia,  when  he  was  sensitive  to  some  presence 
behind  him.  He  turned  and  saw  Nelly  Ha- 
worth. 

"  Why,  Nelly  !  " 

"  I  hev  brought  thee  a  letter,  Captain.  Miss 
Mason  sent  it,  or  I  wouldn't  hev  come  near  t' 
'  Arethusa.'  Will  ta  read  it,  and  send  me  back 
as  soon  as  iver  ta  can  ?  " 

He  took  the  letter  from  her  hand,  and 
trembled  with  fear  and  joy  as  he  did  so.  His 
eyes  ran  all  over  the  few  eager  words  in  a 
moment : 

Captain  Bradford  : 

I  am  in  a  great  perplexity.     There  is  a  cruel  wrong  to  be 
done  ;  will  you  help  me  to  prevent  it  ? 
Your  friend, 

VIRGINIA  MASON. 

He  flushed  scarlet  with  the  honor  done  him. 
He  could  scarcely  write  the  few  words  neces- 


252  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

sary  to  answer  her.  They  seemed  so  cold  and 
formal  an  expression  of  all  that  was  in  his 
heart.  But  he  bid  Nelly  hurry  back  with  the 
message,  and  promised  to  follow  it  in  half  an 
hour. 

It  was  then  after  five,  and  when  he  reached 
the  Mason  house  it  was  dark.  Virginia  met 
him  as  he  entered,  and,  holding  his  hand,  led 
him  into  the  parlor.  She  was  under  strong 
excitement.  For  an  hour  she  had  been  walk 
ing  about  the  room,  wondering  how  she  was  to 
explain  the  shameful  incidents  to  Captain 
Bradford.  When  she  saw  him  she  brought 
him  to  the  lighted  candles,  and  put  Jane's  let 
ter  into  his  hand. 

"  Read  it,  every  word,"  she  said. 

Her  voice  was  low,  but  tremulous  with  feel 
ing,  and  Marius,  glancing  first  into  her  face, 
began  to  read.  Standing  by  his  side  she 
watched  him — watched  the  gradual  knitting  of 
his  brows,  the  setting  of  his  mouth,  the  flam 
ing  of  the  rising  passion  .into  his  eyes  and 
cheeks.  As  he  finished  the  infamous  tale  he 
slowly  gathered  the  paper  between  his  strong 
hands  and  crushed  it  together.  The  action 
was  involuntary.  He  did  not  know  he  had 
done  so  until  Virginia  touched  his  hands. 

"  I  would  crush  the  tenfold  villain  to  atoms  ! " 
he  said. 

"  The  boys  though,  Captain  !  That  is  the  first 
thought.  Will  you  help  me  to  save  them  ?  " 


READY    TO   PEXISH.  253 

"As  gladly  as  if  they  were  my  own  brothers. 
I  will  go  at  once." 

"  Their  probable  lodging  is  named  in  that 
letter."  She  took  the  crushed  paper  from  him, 
and  began  to  straighten  it  out  with  her  beau 
tiful  hands.  He  could  scarce  refrain  himself 
from  kissing  them.  He  did  touch  them,  and 
felt  as  if  he  had  touched  some  spring  of  won 
drous  bliss. 

"  Here  it  is — 33  Spruce  Street.  I  shall  leave 
all  to  you.  Have  you  any  idea  what  must  be 
done?" 

"  They  must  be  taken  to  England.  The 
'  Arethusa  '  can  take  them." 

"  Do  you  sail  to-morrow  ?  " 

"  To-morrow,  at  four  o'clock.  But  I  can 
make  it  later  if  necessary." 

"  Then  I  shall  not  see  you  again."  There 
was  a  loving  trouble  in  her  eyes;  a  longing 
sadness  in  her  voice.  It  made  him  tremble 
with  hope  and  love. 

"  But  I  will  not  doubt.  You  will  do  every 
thing  that  is  possible ;  the  boys  are  truly  no 
charge  of  yours — but,  if  I  may  call  you  '  friend,' 
save  them  for  my  sake." 

Control,  repression,  restraint  were  no  longer 
possible.  He  flung  them  behind  his  back.  He 
looked  with  shining  eyes  straight  into  her  eyes, 
he  took  her  hands  in  his  hands,  and  said,  with 
a  strong,  sweet  potency  : 

"  Not  for  your  sake,  my  love.     Not  for  your 


254  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

sake,  but  for  the  sake  of  Justice  and  Mercy  and 
Eternal  Right,  I  will  save  the  boys,  if  I  give 
my  life  to  do  it.  I  would  be  a  craven,  coward 
ly,  cruel  hound  not  to  save  them.  But,  oh, 
Virginia!  give  me  your  love  for  Love's  own 
sweet  sake.  I  am  not  worthy " 

"  You  are  most  worthy." 

"  I  am  poor." 

"  You  are  rich." 

"  I  am  lowly  born." 

"  You  are  noble  by  birth." 

He  drew  her  close  to  him  and  whispered, 
*'  What  then,  oh,  loveliest  and  sweetest?" 

She  could  not  escape  his  beaming  eyes,  his 
bending  face,  his  encircling  arms,  the  spirit  of 
compelling  love  that  pervaded  him.  She  went 
to  the  heart  that  claimed  her.  He  felt  her 
arms  around  his  neck,  her  cheek  against  his 
cheek,  her  lips  whispering  on  his  lips  the  divinest 
music  mortals  ever  hear. 

He  was  in  a  rapture,  and  all  impossible  things 
were  then  possible  to  him.  For  a  few  moments 
heaven  and  earth  had  met.  He  had  the  token 
in  his  soul  of  a  love  which  bound  him  to  im 
mortality.  They  were  both  so  blissful  that 
they  wept  as  full  souls  weep,  a  happy  rain  that 
kisses  turned  to  smiles. 

It  would  have  been  hard  to  part,  if  Duty — 
not  severe,  but  strong  and  pleasant  of  aspect — 
had  not  said,  "The  clock  stiikes  seven.  There 
is  work  to  be  done,  and  you  must  be  about  it." 


READY    TO  PERISH.  255 

"  You  will  write  and  tell  me  all,  dearest 
Marius?" 

"John  Thomas  will  bring  you  word.  I  shall 
need  some  one  that  I  can  rely  on.  If  I  do  not 
get  the  boys  to-night,  I  cannot  leave  my  ship 
very  well  to-morrow.  But  John  Thomas  is 
sufficient.  Tell  Nelly  to  send  him  to  the 
'  Arethusa  '  at  daybreak.  If  she  talks  to  him 
to-night,  he  will  be  in  a  proper  mood  for  any 
slave-hunter  to-morrow.  But  I  hope  to  have 
the  boys  on  the  'Arethusa '  in  an  hour's  time. 
My  darling,  write  me  a  letter,  and  send  it  to 
me  to-morrow." 

She  smiled  her  promise,  and  then  fled  away 
to  a  dreamful,  happy  solitude  ;  while  Marius 
walked  with  purposeful  strides  to  33  Spruce 
Street. 

It  was  a  large  boarding-house,  and  he  was 
readily  shown  to  an  attic  room  with  a  shelving 
roof  and  dormer  windows.  Alexander,  the 
elder  boy,  was  absent.  Stephen  sat  at  a  table 
writing.  He  was  slightly  deformed — one  of 
those  seraphic-looking  hunchbacks  who  are  old 
when  they  are  born,  and  who  have  a  nature 
too  fine  and  high  for  mortal  usage.  He  was 
writing  a  hymn,  and  heaven  was  in  his  up 
turned  gaze. 

When  Captain  Bradford  entered,  he  sprang 
to  his  feet.  The  haunting  terror  of  his  life 
seized  him  in  a  moment,  and  he  was  not  able 
to  throw  off  his  suspicion  at  once. 


?$(>  SHE   LOVED   A    SAILOR 

Marius  took  both  his  hands  firmly  and 
•.jcMtly,  and  said,  "Have  no  fear,  Stephen;  I 
come  as  your  true  friend.  Where  is  Alexan 
der?" 

"  He  went  to  Flushing,  on  business,  this 
afternoon." 

"  But  he  is  coming  home  to-night  ?  " 

"  Not  until  to-morrow  ?  " 

"What  time  to-morrow?" 

"  It  may  be  noon.  It  may  be  later.  It 
depends  upon  the  orders  he  took  out  there. 
What  is  the  matter,  sir?  Are  we  in  danger? 

"  I  fear  so,  Stephen — in  great  danger.  In 
fact,  there  is  no  time  for  delay."  Then  he 
gave  him  Jane's  letter,  and  the  boy  compre 
hended  in  a  few  moments  the  position.  He 
rose  trembling,  and  deathly  white  with  terror. 

"  What  is  to  be  done  ?"  he  said.  "  What  is 
to  be  done,  sir?  I  mean,  how  is  Alexander  to 
be  warned  ?  Where  shall  we  go  ?  " 

"  I  am  the  captain  of  an  English  ship.  I 
will  take  you  on  board  to-night.  You  are  safe 
there." 

"  But  my  brother,  sir  ?  I  cannot  leave  my 
brother." 

"  At  daylight  I  will  have  a  man  to  watch  for 
him,  to  warn  him,  and  tell  him  where  you  are, 
and  how  to  reach  the  ship.  Can  you  trust  me, 
Stephen  ?  " 

He  rose  and  looked  searchingly  into  the 
captain's  face,  and  the  clear  gray  eyes  met  his 


READY    TO  PERISH.  257 

dark,  glowing  ones  with  such  strong  and  loving 
intelligence  that  the  boy  answered  promptly, 
"  I  can  trust  you  fully.  I  will  go  with  you 
now."  He  was  putting  on  his  coat  as  he 
spoke. 

"  Stop  a  moment.  Write  a  letter  to  your 
brother,  and  leave  it  on  the  table." 

"That  man  Wilkins  is  sure  to  come  here. 
He  would  take  it." 

"You  are  right.  Do  not  fear,  I  will  man 
age  to  warn  him,  I  will  surely  save  your  brother. 
Come." 

They  went  out  together  into  the  warm* 
starlit  night — the  strong  handsome  man  and 
the  lad,  slight,  pale  and  crippled.  Stephen 
stepped  slowly.  He  was  praying  as  he  went, 
and  the  Captain  was  conscious  of  a  Presence, 
greater  than  any  mortal,  walking  with  them. 

"  He  will  give  his  angels  charge  concerning 
thee,"  muttered  the  boy  ;  and  Marius  walked, 
never  thought  of  hurrying,  and  had  no  fear  of 
molestation.  They  were  encircled  by  an  at 
mosphere  that  was  stronger  than  a  rampart. 
No  man  approached  them ;  several  crossed 
over  to  the  other  side.  It  was  like  walking  in 
a  vision, — and  the  sailors  laughing  with  their 
sweethearts,  and  the  people  passing  to  and  fro, 
seemed  outside  of  the  world  they  moved  in. 

When  they  stepped  on  board  the  "  Are- 
thusa,"  Marius  turned  to  Stephen  and  said, 
with  a  sharp  kindness: 


^58  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

"  Go  down  into  the  ship.  You  are  free. 
Thank  God  for  it  !  " 

So  far  all  was  well,  but  he  was  troubled  at 
missing  the  boy  Alexander.  His  return  was 
so  uncertain,  and  John  Thomas  would  only  be 
able  to  identify  him  by  Stephen's  description. 
He  had  not  a  high  opinion  of  the  Yorkshire- 
man's  native  cleverness  in  such  emergencies, 
though  he  knew  he  could  rely  on  his  courage. 
After  all,  NeUy's  intuition  might  have  been 
better. 

At  daylight  John  Thomas  boarded  the  "Are- 
thusa,"  and  Nelly  was  with  him.  She  was  to 
bring  back  any  information  there  was  to  send, 
and  she  was  the  bearer  of  a  letter  from  Virginia 
to  the  Captain.  It  was  her  first  love  letter  to 
him.  He  dismissed  every  other  thought,  and 
fled  like  a  boy  to  his  cabin  with  it.  And 
blessed  above  all  men  he  thought  himself 
when  his  heart  came  at  last  and  alone  into  its 
warm  secret  foldings.  He  gave  himself  one 
half-hour's  joy,  and  then,  with  his  answer  ready 
for  Nelly,  went  back  to  the  salon. 

Stephen  was  talking  with  Nelly  and  John 
Thomas.  He  had  described  his  brother  so 
fully  that  Nelly  declared  she  could  pick  him 
out  of  a  hundred,  but  John  Thomas  only 
scratched  his  head  and  wondered.  Nelly 
looked  at  him  impatiently,  and  turned  to 
Marius — "  Captain,  I'll  look  after  John  Thomas 
tnysen." 


READY    TO  PERISH.  259 

"  If  she'll  nobbut  point  t'  lad  out  to  me,  I'll 
see  as  nobody  hurts  him,  Captain." 

"Then  I  will  trust  you,  Nelly.  After  noon,, 
I  cannot  leave  the  ship.  If  I  did,  I  would  not 
have  men  enough  to  sail  her.  Now,  mind  !. 
The  'Arethusa,'  lifts  her  anchor  at  four  o'clock- 
You  must  have  the  boy  here,  by  that  time> 
Nelly." 

"  If  he  is  in  town,  Captain." 

"And  if  not,  what  then,  sir?"  It  was  Ste 
phen  who  spoke,  and  Marius  could  not  bear  the 
anguish  in  his  long,  thin,  white  face. 

"  I  will  wait  for  him,  Stephen.  It  cannot  be 
longer  than  twelve  hours.  The  'Arethusa'  will 
not  be  ready  until  Alexander  is  aboard  her. 
Now  then,  Stephen  !  " 

He  followed  Nelly  and  John  Thomas  on 
deck,  walked  to  the  end  of  the  wharf  with 
them,  and  again  gave  the  man  his  instructions. 
He  answered,  "  Aye,  aye,  sir,"  but  he  turned 
to  Nelly,  as  soon  as  the  captain  was  out  of 
hearing,  for  his  final  orders. 

"  What  does  ta  think  of  all  this,  Nelly  ?  It  is 
a  mixy-maxy  business.  If  they'd  take  my  no 
tion  about  it,  they'd  let  me  go  for  that  hound 
Wilkins.  I'd  pummel  him  that  well,  he  wouldn't 
be  able  to  move  out  of  his  bed  for  a  week  or 
two." 

"  Of  course  you  would.  Now,  forget  ivery- 
thing  Captain  Bradford  said  to  you,  and  do 
just  as  I  say.  Go  to  33  Spruce  Street,  and 


260  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

stay  round  there  till  one  o'clock.  Ivery  time 
the  clock  strikes,  ask  if  Mr.  Forfar  hes  come 
home,  ana  as  soon  as  he  does,  give  him  his 
brother's  letter.  When  he  is  ready  to  run,  keep 
at  his  side  till  he  steps  on  the  'Arethusa.'  If 
ta  lets  any  man  stop  him,  thou  stops  thy  awn 
wedding — that's  all  about  it." 

"  I'm  none  such  a  fool." 

"  If  he  hesn't  come  home  to  33  Spruce 
Street  by  one  o'clock — and  men  are  thet  con- 
trary  I'm  sure  he  won't  hev — then  go  to  Job 
Parker's  store,  63  William  Street,  and  watch 
round  there  till  thou  either  sees  him  or  me. 
I'll  be  along  about  two  o'clock  to  see  thou 
does  thy  duty." 

"  I'm  sure  thou  needn't." 

"  If  ta  sees  Wilkins — and  surely  to  good 
ness,  thou  can't  mistake  such  a  blackguard — 
keep  tiiy  hands  off  him  till  I  get  there. 
Then  I'll  give  thee  leave  to  do  as  ta  likes 
with  him." 

These  instructions  seemed  clear  enough  to 
Nelly,  but  she  was  doubtful  of  John  Thomas 
blundering  them.  Virginia  shared  her  anxiety. 
*'  Do  not  wait  a  moment,  Nelly,"  she  urged. 
4'  Go  and  direct  John  Thomas." 

"  I  am  far  better  not  there,  ma'am,  till  the 
young  man  comes  home  ;  and  I'm  sure  by  his 
brother's  words  and  looks  he'll  niver  get  near 
New  York  till  afternoon."  But  at  twelve  o'clock 
Nelly  started  down  town,  and  found  John 


READY    TO  PERISH.  261 

Thomas  at  the  post  assigned  him.  He  had 
stood  there  all  morning,  "  making  himsen,"  as 
Nelly  said,  "  a  laughing-stock  and  a  wonder- 
post  for  ivery  one  as  lived  near  at  hand." 

"  The  landlady  has  told  me  three  times  that 
Mr.  Forfar  won't  be  home  till  dark ;  so,  ta 
sees,  he  willn't  get  on  the  'Arethusa  by  four 
o'clock." 

"  Won't  he  ?  Thou  shall  see  he  will.  Now, 
then,  if  t*  landlady  didn't  expect  him  till  dark; 
then  it's  nearly  sure  he  goes  straight  from  t' 
boat  to  t'  store  he  works  at.  And  anybody 
but  a  fool  might  hev  known  that,  when  he's 
been  collecting  money.  Come,  let's  off  to  Wil 
liam  Street.  Why  didn't  ta  bring  thy  kit  of 
tools,  and  look  as  if  ta  had  some  business  of 
thy  awn  in  hand  ?  " 

"  New  York  is  such  a  moidering  place.  I 
allays  feel  as  if  I  hed  lost  my  mind  in  it.  I 
niver  get  used  to  it." 

"  That's  the  way  with  English  folk.  They 
are  easy  to  tell  in  a  foreign  country.  They 
doan't  seem  to  hev  any  knack  of  making 
themsens  at  home.  Look  at  that  Irish  beggar! 
You'd  swear  he  felt  as  if  a  good  deal  of  New 
York  was  all  his  awn.  Here  !  Hold  on  a  bit ! 
That  is  Wilkins,  I'll  be  bound  for  it.  Look  at 
his  face ;  it  is  the  varry  color  of  tobacco — and 
the  big  hat  over  it  !  He  may  well  hide  it — a 
worse-looking  scoundrel  I  niver  saw,  I'm  sure  !  " 

"  There  is  a  man  with  him." 


262  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

"  That  will  be  an  officer  of  some  kind,  and 
one  kind  is  meaner  than  another." 

"  Well,  young  Forfar  isn't  at  33  Spruce 
Street,  and  I'm  varry  sure  he  isn't  in  Job 
Parker's  store :  for  we  hev  passed  twenty 
times,  and  there  is  nobody  like  him  in  it." 

The  two  men  went  direct  to  Parker's  store, 
and  they  remained  there  for  more  than  an 
hour.  Then  they  walked  to  Spruce  Street, 
made  an  inquiry,  and  returned.  During  this 
interval,  Parker  himself  came  frequently  to  the 
store  door,  and  looked  anxiously  up  the  street. 
Nelly  felt  sure  he  was  watching  for  Alexander, 
and  that  he  desired  to  warn  him,  if  he  could. 
It  was  evident,  then,  that  he  had  not  yet  re 
turned.  Soon  after  three,  Wilkins  and  his 
companion  again  went  to  Spruce  Street,  and 
Nelly  felt  as  if  this  was  the  lad's  opportunity. 

"  If  he  would  nobbut  come  !  "  said  Nelly 
impatiently ;  and  with  the  words  Alexander 
turned  into  the  street.  But  Nelly's  face  was 
the  other  way,  and  she  did  not  see  him  until 
he  was  going  into  the  store.  When  she  reached 
the  door,  he  was  just  handing  Parker  some 
papers  and  a  package  of  money.  Nelly  went 
straight  to  him,  and  her  face  and  manner,  and 
the  letter  she  pushed  into  his  hand,  made  him 
all  attention  in  a  moment. 

"  Fly,  my  lad  !  "  she  whispered.  "  English 
packetship  '  Arethusa.'  Stephen  is  on  her, 
safe  !  Wilkins,  of  Memphis,  looking  for  thee. 


READY    TO  PERISH.  263 

Fly !  fly !  Thou  hesn't  a  minute  to  save 
thysen  in  !  " 

The  emergency  was  one  ever  present  to  the 
poor  boy's  mind.  He  glanced  at  his  master, 
and  received  a  movement  of  warning.  He  tore 
open  Stephen's  note.  It  said  only ;  "  The 
'Arethusa!'  Fly  to  her!  Fly  for  your  free 
dom  !  We  are  waiting  for  you." 

He  threw  off  his  coat,  and  went  bareheaded 
to  the  door.  As  he  reached  it,  Wilkins  and  the 
sheriff's  assistant  faced  him. 

"John  Thomas!"  screamed  Nelly,  "make 
these  fellows  let  me  alone,"  and  in  an  instant 
John  Thomas  had  thrown  himself  between 
Nelly  and  Wilkins,  and  he  was  hitting  out 
with  both  hands  very  cleverly.  It  was  a 
moment  or  two  before  the  men  could  disengage 
themselves  from  the  unexpected  attack,  and 
that  grace  was  seized  by  Alexander ;  so  that 
he  was  nearly  a  block  ahead  ere  they  could 
follow.  But  the  odds  were  vastly  against  him. 
Wilkins's  shout  of  "  A  rescue  !  Fifty  dollars 
for  the  runaway !  "  soon  sent  a  score  of  men 
after  him.  And  the  hunters  increased  at  every 
step. 

"  Fifty  dollars!" 

"Stop  thief!  " 

"  Runaway  nagur  !  " 

"  One  hundred  dollars  for  him  !  " 

"  Knock  him  down  !  " 

"  Fling  a  brick  at  him  '  " 


264  SHE   LOl'ED   A    SAILOR. 

"  A  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  !  " 

And  every  moment  the  crowd  increased  be 
hind  him  ;  and  every  moment  the  likelihood 
of  being  stopped  by  some  one  in  front  was 
greater.  Windows  were  flung  open,  brutal 
women  shouted  and  laughed,  little  children's 
shrill  halloing  increased  the  clamor.  Thank 
God !  the  river  at  last  !  There  was  a  fiercer 
shout!  a  last  run  for  liberty!  In  another 
moment  the  "Arethusa  "  was  in  sight.  Her 
ensign  beckoned  him.  He  was  on  her  wharf. 
Her  captain  was  lifting  his  cap  and  cheering 
him.  There  was  a  cry  from  Stephen  that  gave 
him  fresh  strength.  He  leaped  on  board,  he 
grasped  Stephen's  outstretched  hands,  he  flung 
his  arms  around  him. 

The  crowd  was  pressing  hard  after.  The 
sheriff  and  Wilkins  leaped  on  the  deck.  The 
officer  was  approaching  his  prisoner.  Instantly 
the  captain  was  before  the  boys.  "  Off,  sirs  !  " 
he  cried.  "  I  will  fling  the  first  dog-of-a-man 
into  the  river  who  touches  a  passenger  of 
mine !  " 

"  He  is  a  runaway  slave." 

"  He  is  as  free  as  you  are.  Mr.  Lewis,  show 
the  flag,  sir!  "  As  he  spoke  there  was  a  move 
ment  and  a  shout,  and  out  flew  the  British 
flag.  "  This  is  a  British  bottom,  sir.  On  this 
deck  a  slave  cannot  breathe." 

He  stepped  loftily  aside  then,  as  if  daring 
their  attempt.  The  two  boys  stood  by  the 


READY    TO  PERISH.  265 

mainmast.  Alexander's  right  arm  was  thrown 
before  his  brother;  his  left  was  lifted  to  the 
flag  that  drooped  downward  toward  them. 
The  eyes  of  both  were  yet  full  of  terror,  but 
they  were  raised  with  hope  and  imploration  to 
the  bit  of  bunting  that  was  their  friend  and 
their  salvation. 

"  The  boys  are  mine,"  said  Wilkins.  "  I 
will  have  my  property."  Then,  turning  to  the 
crowd,  who  were  talking  and  shouting  on  the 
wharf,  he  cried  out  to  them  :  "  Gentlemen  ! 
help  me  to  my  own  !  " 

"  Mate,  pull  in  the  gangway.  Donald,  up 
with  the  anchor." 

"  Nothing  of  the  kind !  Gentlemen,  hold 
on  to  the  gangway  !  " 

"  Mr.  Lewis,  throw  it  overboard." 

In  a  moment  the  gangway  was  hanging 
from  the  hands  of  two  men  on  the  wharf. 
Then  he  turned  to  Wilkins.  "You  are  on 
your  way  to  Liverpool.  If  any  man  will  give 
you  a  berth  for  love  or  money  you  can 
have  it.  Dare  not  to  come  into  my  presence. 
In  Liverpool  take  the  boys — if  you  can  get 
them." 

There  was  a  great  cheer  from  the  passen 
gers  and  sailors  on  the  "  Arethusa."  A 
cheer  also,  mingled  with  laughter,  from  the 
crowd  on  the  wharf.  Success  is  the  idol  of 
the  mob — the  victor  in  any  dispute  is  always 
right. 


266  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

The  packet  was  now  going  down  the  river 
quickly  enough  to  insure  the  boys'  safety.  In 
the  main,  it  was  watched  with  pleasure. 

"The  poor  lad  has  won  his  freedom;  let 
him  have  it !  "  cried  one. 

"  He  was  a  good-looking  boy,"  sighed  a  big 
Irish  woman.  She  was  thinking  of  her  own 
sons. 

"  And  he  run  like  a  red  deer,"  said  a  tall 
Scotchman,  who  had  kept  close  to  Alexander's 
side.  "  Let  me  tell  you,  it  wud  ha'e  ta'en  a 
braw  man  to  catch  the  laddie.  I  wadna  ha'e 
suffered  it.  I  said  to  mysel',  let  him  win  his 
ain  freedom  if  he  can  :  if  he  canna,  then,  John 
McGregor  will  win  it  for  him.  I  wad  ha'e 
knocked  the  first  man  down  that  put  finger  on 
him." 

"Give  the  captain  a  cheer!  He  did  right  ! 
Give  him  a  cheer  !  "  And  the  crowd  fixed  their 
eyes  on  the  man  standing  yet  with  defiance 
midship,  his  strong  voice  ringing  out  orders, 
his  gallant  ship  answering  them  with  outswell- 
ing  sails. 

Virginia  heard  from  John  Thomas  that  nighL 
the  whole  triumphant  transaction,  for  John 
Thomas  had  kept  very  close  behind  the  fugi 
tive  ;  and  the  next  morning  there  was  a  full 
account  of  it  in  the  "Sun.':  She  read  it  with 
pride  and  enthusiasm  to  her  father,  but  the 
Major  listened  with  an  equanimity  that  seemed 
almost  cruel. 


READY    TO  PERISH.  267 

"Captain  Bradford  will  get  himself  into 
trouble  if  he  does  not  mind." 

"  I  think  he  did  quite  right." 

"  We  are  permitted  to  think  as  we  wish  ;  but 
actions  have  wider  responsibilities,  and  Provi 
dence  has  ordered  — 

"  My  dear  father,  whenever  people  want  to 
say  a  severe  thing  they  bring  in  Providence. 
How  can  we  help  suffering  with  the  slave,  and 
honoring  men  who  succor  those  ready  to  perish  ? 
They  are  the  Greathearts  of  their  generation." 

"  Such  men  are  thinly  sown,  Virginia.  I 
have  not  met  many  of  them.  They  are  widely 
scattered." 

"  True  ;  but  they  know  each  other,  and,  afar 
off,  salute." 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

BAD   AT   BEST. 

"  He  who  beateth  his  slave  without  fault,  his  atonement  for 
this  is  freeing  him." 

"  A  man  who  behaveth  ill  to  his  slave  will  not  enter  Para 
dise." 

"  Him  whom  God  hath  ordained  to  be  the  slave  of  his 
brother,  his  brother  must  not  order  him  to  do  anything  beyond 
his  power;  and  if  he  doth  order  such  a  work,  he  must  himsetf 
assist  him  in  doing  it." 

"  Forgive  thy  servant  seventy  times  a  day. " 

— Law s  of  Mohammed. 

IT  was  about  ten  weeks  after  this  event — a 
misty,  chill  evening  in  December — when 
Mr.  Joe  Wilkins  again  saw  the  city  of  Memphis. 
His  long  absence  had  given  Forfar  much 
anxiety,  but  the  subject  was  one  he  did  not 
care  to  speak  of  to  his  neighbors.  There  was, 
indeed,  a  kind  of  esprit  de  corps  among  slave 
owners  which  forbade  the  discussion  of  the 
most  objectionable  features  of  "  the  institu 
tion,"  and  even  punished  with  social  ostracism 
those  who  flaunted  them  in  the  public  eye. 

Communication     between    New    York    and 
Memphis  was  then  roundabout,  and  not  par- 
268 


BAD  AT  BEST.  269 

ticularly  frequent.  The  New  York  "  Herald  " 
was  in  its  babyhood,  and  did  not  push  inquiries 
and  information  into  all  the  dark  and  lonely 
places  of  the  Union  ;  and  though  all  the  daily 
papers  of  the  great  city  noticed  the  carrying  off 
of  Wilkins  and  the  officer,  it  was  not  likely  that 
any  of  these  papers  reached  Memphis,  and  the 
affair  was  not  further  commented  on,  and  was 
soon  forgotten. 

But  Nigel  was  both  anxious  and  angry.  He 
believed  Wilkins  had  obtained  possession  of 
the  boys,  carried  them  to  New  Orleans,  and, 
with  their  price  in  his  pocket,  gone  to  the  new 
land  of  plenty  and  promise  called  Texas.  He 
remembered  how  enthusiastic  Wilkins  had 
been  on  the  subject,  and  as  week  after  week 
passed  away  this  conviction  became  in  his 
mind  a  settled  one.  It  made  him  tingle  all 
over  to  be  the  dupe  of  such  a  man  ;  but  if  he 
had  been  duped,  those  two  boys  had  been  sold, 
and  he  felt  an  infernal  pleasure  in  the  compen 
sation. 

For  though  his  slave  stepmother  had  ever 
recognized  his  right,  and  ever  treated  him  with 
respect  and  kindness,  he  remembered  the  fa 
vors  and  the  love  given  to  her  children  as  some 
thing  taken  from  himself.  He  resented  the 
relationship  from  his  earliest  conception  of  it, 
and  his  action  after  his  father's  death  was  sim 
ply  the  carrying  out  of  a  revenge  he  had 
promised  himself  for  many  years.  And  he  had 


270  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

an  accommodating  conscience  ;  he  counted  up 
to  it  the  money  spent  on  educating  those  slave 
children,  and  was  sure  the  price  of  their  bod 
ies  would  barely  replace  the  sum  taken  from 
his  patrimony;  and  his  conscience  accepted  the 
calculation  and  was  satisfied. 

He  was  sitting  on  his  hearth  that  December 
evening,  busy  with  thoughts  kindred  to  these, 
when  Wilkins  suddenly  entered  the  room. 
Nigel  looked  at  the  man,  and  put  his  hand  in 
his  breast,  but  he  did  not  speak. 

"  Friends !  Captain,"  said  the  man,  ad 
vancing,  "you  should  hear  a  man  before  you 
speak  in  that  way, "and  he  touched  on  his  own 
breast  the  pocket  in  which  his  derringer  lay 
ready  to  answer. 

"  You  might  have  written,  Wilkins,  if  you 
conld  not  speak." 

"  I  have  been  at  sea  ever  since  I  touched 
New  York.  Is  there  any  post-office  there, 
sir?" 

"  Take  a  seat.  Tell  me  what  has  happened. 
You  got  the  boys?" 

"  No.     I  Hid  not." 

"  What  then  ?  " 

"  I  got  to  New  York  at  midnight.  I  had  the 
warrant  for  their  arrest  out  by  noon  next  day. 
I  could  not  find  the  hunchback,  but  his  land 
lady  said  he  was  sure  to  be  in  his  room  at  three 
o'clock — he's  actually  going  to  school  yet,  sir 
— and  the  other  sprig  had  been  sent  to  Flushr 


BAD  AT  BEST.  271 

ing  to  collect  money.  His  employer  would 
have  nothing  to  say  to  me,  one  way  or  the 
other;  but,  welcome  or  not  welcome,  I  and  an 
officer  hung  round  the  store  waiting.  The  boy 
came  back  about  half-past  three.  He  knew  me 
in  a  moment,  and  ran  ;  and  after  fighting  off  a 
man  and  woman  who  tried  to  hold  us,  we  ran 
after  him.  He  fled  straight  as  an  arrow  to  a 
ship  called  the  '  Arethusa,'  and  her  captain 
jumped  up  England's  interfering  old  flag,  lifted 
his  anchor,  and  put  out  to-sea,  with  Joe  Wil- 
kins  and  a  sheriff's  officer  on  board." 

"  The  '  Arethusa '  ?  "  screamed  Nigel.  "  Cap 
tain  Bradford  ?  " 

"The  same,  sir;  and  a  more  insolent  tyrant 
is  not  on  this  planet,  sir.  What  I  suffered  on 
that  ship,  sir,  I'll  never  be  able  to  tell.  It  was 
a  hell  on  earth,  or  on  water,  which  is  far  worse. 
But  I'll  take  it  all  out  of  some  nigger's  hide 
yet.  No  bed,  no  victuals  but  what  the  cook 
threw  to  me,  as  if  I  was  a  dog — the  scrapings 
of  plates,  sir !  No  whisky,  my  tobacco  done 
the  second  day,  sick  as  a  dying  dolphin,  and 
wet  through  the  most  of  the  time.  And  them 
two  boys,  sir,  parading  up  and  down  the  quar 
ter-deck  with  the  captain  and  the  best  of  the 
passengers!  Give  me  some  whisky,  sir!  I'm 
sick  yet  when  I  think  of  it." 

Nigel  passed  the  bottle  but  was  unable  to 
speak.  His  rage  scorned  the  poor  expletives 
of  any  human  language  he  knew.  He  could 


272  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

only  finger  the  pistol  in  his  breast,  and   think 
of  murder. 

"  We  had  one  storm  on  the  top  of  another 
till  we  were  nearly  half  over,  and  then  we  met 
a  ship  homeward  bound.  The  captain  of  the 
*  Arethusa  '  told  the  officer  with  me  that  he 
would  put  him  on  her  if  he  desired  it ;  and,  as  he 
would  have  been  the  derndest  fool  not  to  desire 
it,  I  was  left  alone  for  the  rest  of  the  voyage. 
When  we  got  to  Liverpool,  he  said  to  me : 
'  Leave  my  ship — quick  !  If  my  boys  take  it 
into  their  heads  to  raise  a  mob  and  catch  a 
slave-hun.ter,  they  will  not  leave  enough  of 
your  body  to  carry  your  mean,  contemptible 
soul  back  to  Memphis.'  He  said  that  to  me, 
sir  ;  yes,  he  did." 

"  And  you  took'  it  from  him  ?  " 
.  "I  could  not  help  it,  for  he  added:  'You 
had  better  go  at  once  to  a  New  Orleans  packet. 
You'll  find  one  six  streets  to  the  left.'  I  saw 
five  or  six  of  the  sailors  watching  me,  with  very 
ugly  faces,  and  I  was  glad  to  slip  away  as 
quietly  as  I  could — off  one  ship  and  on  to  an 
other ;  and  may  I  be  eternally  flogged  if  ever  I 
go  to  sea  again.  No,  sir !  Not  for  a  galleon 
full  of  gold,  such  as  my  grandfather  took  under 
Lafitte." 

"  Captain  Bradford !  The  '  Arethusa  ' !  "  It 
was  all  that  Nigel  could  yet  say,  and  he  spit 
the  words  out  as  if  they  burnt  his  tongue. 
Wilkins  amplified  his  story  with  one  aggravat- 


BAD  AT  BEST.  273 

ing  detail  after  another,  drinking  deeply  as  he 
talked,  until  he  stumbled  on  to  a  couch  and 
fell  into  a  drunken  sleep. 

Then  Nigel  rose  and  trod  the  floor  back 
ward  and  forward  to  the  measure  and  pace  of 
his  turbulent  passions.  His  hatred  of  the  boys, 
his  contempt  of  Wilkins,  his  disappointment 
in  his  own  revenge  and  profit — every  feeling 
was  lost  in  the  tempest  of  rage  that  tossed  his 
soul  against  Marius  Bradford.  After  a  while 
he  was  calmed  sufficiently  to  reflect  upon  the 
subject,  and  the  devil  of  suspicion  drove  out 
the  devil  of  anger,  and  he  began  to  try  and  dis 
cover  how  Captain  Bradford  knew  of  his  inten 
tions.  He  had  told  no  one  in  Memphis  of 
them.  No  one  knew  where  Wilkins  was  going 
to,  nor  for  what  purpose.  No  one  even  knew 
that  Wilkins  was  about  his  business.  Not  a 
word  had  been  said  on  the  subject,  except  in 
his  own  house — on  the  gallery  that  afternoon. 
A  sudden  thought  came  to  him.  Could  Jane 
have  heard  ?  Or  Palma  ?  Palma  could  write. 

He  put  away  the  thought  of  Jane  as  pre 
posterous.  It  must  have  been  Palma.  He 
opened  the  doors  to  go  up-stairs.  Palma  was 
in  the  hall.  She  had  Wilkins's  hat  in  her  hand, 
and  was  looking  at  it  when  Nigel  saw  her.  He 
walked  quickly  to  the  stand  and  lifted  a  horse 
whip.  "  Prying  again !  "  he  hissed,  and  the 
whip  fell  with  a  terrible  force  across  the  girl's 
face  and  shoulders.  She  cowered  and  shud- 


274  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

dered,  but  she  did  not  scream.  Even  in  her 
agony  she  remembered  her  mistress  was  yet 
weak  and  nervous,  and  she  bore  the  stinging 
pain  with  patience. 

When  he  had  exhausted  his  passion,  he 
spurned  her  with  his  foot,  and  went  to  his  wife's 
room.  There  was  only  the  blaze  of  firelight  in 
it,  and  Jane  sat  on  the  hearth  with  her  baby 
held  close  to  her  breast.  She  had  been  down  to 
the  gates  of  the  grave,  and  come  back  with  its 
pale,  gray  shadow  on  her  face.  But  in  her  arms 
she  had  brought  safely  back,  through  all  dan 
gers,  the  pretty  boy  she  was  gently  rocking  and 
softly  singing  to.  Nigel  was  very  fond  of  his 
boy,  and  when  Jane  turned  with  a  faint  smile 
and  lifted  the  child  that  he  might  kiss  its  rosy 
face,  he  could  not  find  it  in  his  heart  to  scold 
and  bluster  as  he  had  intended. 

She  looked  at  him  inquisitively;  she  saw  that 
he  was  very  much  annoyed  ;  but  she  had  for 
gotten  Wilkins  at  that  moment.  When  she 
wrote  to  Virginia  about  Palma's  brothers,  she 
had  told  her,  "  Whatever  was  done,  not  to  say 
anything  in  her  letters  about  it.  I  may  be  very 
ill  soon,  Virginia  ;  I  may  die.  My  letters  may 
be  opened  by  Nigel.  If  the  boys  are  saved, 
put  a  leaf  of  sweet  geranium  in  your  next  letter. 
If  there  is  no  leaf,  I  shall  know  my  effort  has 
failed."  But  the  leaf  had  come — nay,  two 
leaves  had  been  sent ;  and  from  them  Jane 
rightly  divined  both  boys  had  been  fortunate. 


BAD  AT  BEST.  275 

And  so  much  had  happened  since,  that  the  cir 
cumstance  had  faded  somewhat  in  her  mind. 
Any  mother  with  her  first  babe,  in  her  breast 
knows  how  the  little  face  hides  all  other  faces, 
and  how  its  small,  urgent  needs  put  all  other 
needs  behind  them.  She  talked  of  her  baby 
till  she  saw  a  shadow  on  her  husband's  face — 
then  she  said  : 

"  I  am  afraid  something  has  angered  you, 
Nigel." 

He  told  her  all,  watching  her  countenance 
the  while  for  any  flitting  expression  that  might 
feed  the  suspicion  that  lay  at  the  bottom  of 
his  heart,  though  he  would  not  acknowledge  it. 

Nothing  did  feed  it.  Jane's  eyes  were  cast 
upon  her  child  ;  she  uttered  only  those  ejacula 
tions  of  wonder  or  interest  he  had  expected. 
For  at  the  time  the  letter  was  written  to  Vir 
ginia,  Jane  had  rehearsed  the  present  scene  too 
often  to  make  any  serious  blunder  when  she 
had  to  play  it.  And  Nigel  could  not  bear  to 
accuse  her.  She  had  been  so  ill,  a  relapse 
might  kill  her  ;  and  he  thought  of  his  son  with 
out  a  mother,  and  of  himself  without  a  wife — 
yes,  such  thoughts  do  intrude — every  one  has 
them  :  horrible,  selfish  considerations,  which 
the  heart  instantly  repudiates.  One  question 
he  did,  however,  ask :  "  Had  she  ever,  heard 
Virginia  speak  of  Captain 'Bradford  in  a  way 
which  would  imply  a  special  friendship  between 
them  ?"  and  Jane  could  truly  answer,  "  that  she 


276  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

did  not  believe  there  was  any  friendship  at  all 
between  them." 

"  Then  it  is  Palma — or  July,"  he  said.  "  In 
some  way  they  have  overheard,  or  been  told 
what  Wilkins  was  going  North  for.  Or  Wil- 
kins  has  been  drunk,  and  talked ;  and  if  any 
negro  heard  him,  they  would  find  means  to  let 
Palma  or  July  know." 

"  It  would  have  been  quite  natural,  if  they 
were  the  girls'  brothers." 

But  though  Nigel  had  confessed  to  sending 
after  the  two  runaways,  he  had  not  said  a  word 
of  the  relationship  they  held  to  him.  And 
Jane  was  now  trying  to  forget  it.  The  baby 
had  softened  her  heart  to  its  father.  And,  in 
deed,  she  was  too  physically  weak  to  feel  any 
outside  wrong  very  acutely.  She  had  forgiven 
her  husband  ;  she  had  begun  to  love  him  anew. 
After  all,  she  had  not,  perhaps,  made  considera 
tion  enough  for  his  education  and  surround 
ings. 

But  she  had  not  a  moment's  regret  for  having 
betrayed  his  intentions.  She  had  prevented 
him  committing  a  great  crime  ;  and  she  did 
not  believe  the  intention  of  crime  was  as  bad  as 
its  perpetration.  At  any  rate,  the  wrong  was 
checked  with  its  projector — it  had  no  evil  con 
sequences  for  others.  If  the  boys  were  to 
save  again,  she  would  save  them  ;  yes,  always, 
she  must  protest  against  a  wrong,  even  if  she 
could  not  prevent  it.  But  it  had  been  pre- 


BAD  AT  BEST.  277 

vented,  and  Nigel  might  never  more  be  in  such 
a  dreadful  temptation.  He  was  very  dear  to 
her,  and  she  must  bear  with  him  as  he  was 
until,  by  her  love  and  tact,  she  could  make  him 
see  slavery  in  its  true  relations. 

These  were  the  natural  thoughts  of  a  good 
woman  whom  God  had  permitted  to  return  to 
life  with  a  blessing  in  her  hand.  But  as  the 
force  and  strength  of  her  years  returned  to  her, 
it  was  more  difficult  for  her  to  remember  the 
vows  of  patience  and  forbearance  and  consid 
eration  she  had  made.  For  it  was  a  time  which 
had  intensified  feeling  of  every  kind.  The 
slaveholders  burned  with  a  sense  of  the  injus 
tice  done  them.  They  said  they  were  defamed 
without  any  regard  to  the  involuntary  nature 
of  their  position,  of  its  peculiarities,  surround 
ings,  and  interests.  They  were  sensitive  to  the 
interference  with  their  domestic  life;  they  felt, 
individually  and  nationally,  all  the  indignation 
which  men  feel  when  their  private  characters 
are  assailed  and  the  members  of  their  house 
holds  tampered  with.  Between  North  and 
South  there  was  the  feeling  which  looks  to 
lynch  law,  instead  of  common  law,  for  redress. 
Nigel,  who  had  always  been  a  strict  master, 
became  a  stern  and  then  a  cruel  one.  There 
was  a  similar  change  in  every  household,  and 
the  first  movements  of  emancipation  were 
doubtless  full  of  suffering  to  the  slave. 

It    was    impossible    for    Jane    to    be    quite 


2?3  SHE   LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

ignorant  of  such  changes.  They  could  be  read 
in  Palma's  face  and  attitude.  There  was  a  cer 
tain  look  which  Jane  knew  as  well  as  a  written 
bulletin — it  said,  "  They  have  been  flogging 
July  again."  There  was  often  a  shivering 
shrinking  in  her  own  movements  which  revealed 
her  personal  suffering.  And  Nigel  was  so 
cruel  and  so  insolent  to  her  that  Jane  watched 
the  girl  with  fear  and  wonder.  How  could  she 
bear  to  nurse  and  fondle  the  child  of  the  man 
who  so  brutally  wronged  her?  Might  she  not 
be  planning  some  awful  revenge  for  her  own 
and  July's  injuries  ?  She  had  a  haunting  terror 
about  her  little  Paul,  night  and  day.  She 
would  not  have  him  a  moment  out  of  her  sight. 
She  awoke  many  times  in  a  night  with  a 
scream,  and  a  horrible  fear  which  nothing  but 
a  visit  to  the  child's  cradle  could  satisfy. 

Nigel  resented  this  imaginary  danger  at  first 
with  contempt,  finally  with  anger.  She  re 
minded  him  with  shuddering  anguish  of  little 
children  in  their  own  vicinity  who  had  been 
made  to  pay  the  penalty  of  their  father's  or 
mother's  cruelty,  and  he  refused  to  judge  the 
situation  by  "  horrible  exceptions."  Still,  no 
life  is  all  at  once  and  altogether  wretched. 
There  were  many  days  yet  when  Jane  was  able 
to  shut  her  eyes  to  the  sin  and  sorrow  around 
her,  and  enjoy  the  sunshine  of  Nigel's  love. 
For  love  dies  hard ;  it  has  a  tenacity  that 
resists  conviction  and  cruelty,  and.  even  when 


BAD  AT  BEST.  279 

all  is  apparently  over,  some  spasms  of  linger 
ing  vitality  almost  simulate  life,  and  lead  hope 
to  bring  on  fresh  disaster  and  disappointment. 

In  a  certain  way  Jane  was  also  very  popular 
in  the  neighborhood.  Nigel  was  a  strict  ob 
server  of  religious  services,  and  a  rather  impor 
tant  pillar  of  the  church  which  he  patronized  ; 
and  Jane's  brightness  and  capacity  made  her 
invaluable  in  the  organizing  and  carrying  out 
of  all  the  small  theological  schemes  for  getting 
money.  It  was  said  that  "  Mrs.  Forfar  could 
sing  any  pocket-book  open  "  ;  and  her  fine 
cakes  and  charming  bits  of  fancy-work  were  of 
great  account  in  the  tea-meetings  and  holy 
fairs  of  the  locality.  Nigel  was  always  at  his 
best  during  such  hilarious  occasions,  and  the 
pride  he  felt  in  his  fair  Northern  wife  did  not 
quite  evaporate  for  many  days  after. 

Indeed,  Jane  was  in  a  great  many  ways 
formed  for  society.  Any  party  she  ordered 
was  a  success  ;  invitations  to  her  own  enter 
tainments  were  eagerly  sought.  She  was 
copied  and  quoted  to  such  an  excess  that 
Mrs.  Paget  said,  "  Mrs.  Forfar  could  do  what 
ever  she  liked  ;  it  had  become  the  fashion  to 
praise  her."  Mrs.  Forfar's  attitude  toward 
the  Pagets  had  changed  somewhat.  As  her 
circle  of  friends  increased,  she  regarded  them 
with  contempt,  and  expressed  her  opinion  by 
scornful  but  eloquent  silences.  Mrs.  Paget 
and  Imogene  declared  to  Nigel  that  they 


280  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

had  been  ruined  in  public  opinion  by  his  wife. 
But  they  were  unable  to  make  a  single  definite 
charge.  Jane  had  said  nothing,  and  she  had 
done  nothing,  but  yet  the  Pagets  had  become 
unfashionable,  and  were  quietly  dropped  by 
many  of  the  people  whose  favor  was  the  very 
breath  of  their  nostrils. 

But  wherever  Jane  went  she  took  her  baby. 
Ladies  smiled,  and  supposed  it  was  "the 
No'the'n  way  " ;  and  Jane  let  it  pass  for  that. 
She  had  many  a  quarrel  with  Nigel  on  this 
subject,  but  she  held  firm  to  one  position — "  If 
I  go,  baby  goes ;  if  baby  stays  at  home,  I  stay 
at  home  also."  Nigel's  adamantine  will  simply 
fretted  itself  to  pieces  against  this  rock  of 
mother  love,  and  the  baby  always  went  or  else 
Jane  always  stayed  at  home. 

To  Mrs.  Paget  he  could  speak  of  these  trials 
with  some  freedom.  She  had  known  his 
mother,  she  had  petted  him  all  his  life.  She 
had  expected  him  to  marry  Imogene,  and  she 
believed  that  he  still  loved  her  daughter.  If 
Nigel  was  "  out  "  with  Jane,  he  was  very  much 
"  in "  with  the  Pagets ;  and  whenever  Jane 
was  afar  off  in  sympathy  with  him,  then  he 
found  the  fair  Imogene  particularly  kind  and 
gentle. 

Out  of  such  elements  as  these  the  evolution 
of  almost  any  tragedy  was  possible  ;  and  Jane 
had  often  the  feeling  that  she  was  but  parrying 
off  an  inevitable  fate.  And  as  the  hot  weather 


BAD  AT  BEST.  281 

advanced  again,  her  highly  sensitive  and 
nervous  condition  made  every  hour  of  every 
day  a  constant  watch  and  warfare  with  herself. 
The  child  also  was  sick  and  fretful.  It  an 
noyed  Nigel.  It  would  not  let  him  sleep  at 
night.  He  declared  its  wakefulness  was  caused 
by  too  much  sleep  in  the  day,  and  he  com 
menced  a  regular  plan  of  hostilities  against 
such  an  improper  indulgence.  If  Paul  was  in 
the  cradle,  he  lifted  him  out  of  it.  If  the  child 
cried,  as  was  most  likely,  he  flung  him  into 
Palma's  arms,  with  some  irritable  remark  on 
its  bad  temper. 

He  nursed  this  petty  wrong  against  his  own 
night  rest  until  it  became  a  monomania  with 
him  to  watch  the  poor  infant  and  break  its 
daylight  slumbers,  until  it  was  an  open  quarrel  . 
with  his  wife,  until  the  child's  day-sleeps  were 
matters  of  strategic  arrangement,  too  often 
rendered  useless  by  Nigel's  almost  omnipres 
ent  watchfulness.  He  had  no  other  work  to 
do;  no  living  interest  of  any  kind  to  occupy 
him  ;  and  this  silly,  cruel  quarrel  with  his  own 
infant  and  its  nervous,  impulsive  mother 
became  a  matter  of  importance  to  him.  He 
made  a  grievance  of  it.  Men  full  of  vital 
business,  and  driven  throughout  the  day  by 
momentous  interests,  men  with  brains  alive 
and  hands  full,  must  conceive  a  human  being 
occupying  his  mind  and  time  in  such  a  small 
barbarity  a  lunatic  of  the  meanest  kind. 


282  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

But  Nigel  was  the  outcome  of  circumstances 
which  left  him  hours  and  hours  and  days  and 
weeks  and  years,  in  which  he  had  nothing" 
to  do.  Mr.  Clay  managed  the  estate.  Mr. 
Bailey,  his  factor,  managed  his  money  matters. 
Abstract  thought,  scientific  reading,  he  had 
no  taste  for.  His  culture  was  entirely  super 
ficial.  His  political  ideas  were  on  the  wrong- 
side,  and  were  not  strong  enough  to  make  him 
an  energetic  partisan  in  politics.  He  was  shut 
up  to  his  pipe  and  his  nightly  consultation 
with  his  overseer.  Jane  and  her  baby,  in  a 
pleasant  mood,  had  ceased  to  be  interesting  ; 
he  felt  the  little  excitement  of  a  chronic 
quarrel  with  her  to  be  more  agreeable ;  and  it 
gave  him  the  further  outlet  of  a  faint,  sighing- 
complaint  to  the  sympathetic  Imogene. 

One  very  hot  afternoon,  as  the  sun  began  to 
sink,  Jane  and  Palma  went  quietly  out  of  the 
house.  Palma  had  little  Paul  in  her  arms. 
Their  intention  was  to  reach  a  small  strip  of 
pine  wood  on  the  outskirts  of  the  garden,  and 
rest  there  upon  the  fragrant,  warm  earth  be 
neath  the  trees.  Jane  generally  had  a  book 
or  needle  in  her  hand,  but  this  afternoon 
she  was  under  the  depressing  influence  of 
malaria.  She  had  no  energy  left.  She  had 
no  hope  left.  She  was  consumed  by  a  vague 
indifference  to  the  present  and  a  total  despair 
as  to  the  future. 

It  was  an  effort  to  drag  herself  through  the 


BAD  AT  BEST.  283 

tawny,  cruel  sunshine  ;  through  the  garden  full 
of  the  heavy,  hot  perfume  of  Cape  Jasmine — 
glinting  with  green  lizards — exhaling  lush, 
dense,  depressing  odors.  But  she  felt  better 
when  she  reached  the  pine  strip;  for  if  every 
soil  makes  its  own  tree,  every  tree  also  makes 
its  own  soil.  And  who  does  not  love  the  pine 
earth — brown  and  smooth,  and  spread  with  a 
carpet  of  fragrant,  thread-like  leaves  ?  There 
was  no  deep  shade,  only  a  beautiful  gloom 
surrounded  by  light ;  a  rarefied  freshness  that 
was  almost  a  stir  in  the  air.  They  sat  down 
with  a  sigh  of  pleasure.  There  was  no  noise  but 
the  grating,  mournful  voices  of  the  men  and 
women  in  the  fields  ;  and  they  came  there  only 
as  a  soft  tremulous  sound.  Paul  watched  the 
grasshoppers,  and  pulled  the  fungi  growing 
around — satiny,  bright  as  silver,  smooth  as  silk, 
rainbow  colored,  sulphur  colored,  milk-white 
domes  growing  in  fairy  circles. 

Jane  watched  him  with  an  impassive,  indo 
lent,  meditative  air ;  Palma  talked  in  baby 
fashion  to  the  child,  throwing  some  of  the 
fungi  away,  but  letting  him  fill  his  rosy  hands 
with  others.  The  drowsy  atmosphere  soon 
affected  them  ;  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour  they 
were  all  fast  asleep.  Jane  awoke  first.  It  was 
almost  dark  underneath  the  trees.  She  was 
frightened,  and  touched  Palma,  who  sat  up 
with  an  instant  alertness.  "  Lift  him  gently, 
Palma.  It  is  late  :  we  must  hasten  home." 


284  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

The  Southern  twilight,  with  its  silver  and 
purple  stripes,  its  swirling  bats,  and  damp,  cloy 
ing  mist,  was  all  around  them.  Jane's  clothing 
was  quickly  damp,  and  a  strange  depression 
fell  upon  her.  She  went  forward  listlessly, 
feeling  her  limbs  too  heavy  to  move,  dragging 
them  as  if  they  were  weighted.  She  had  so 
walked  in  many  a  heavy  dream. 

"  I  will  not  go  through  the  garden,  Palma," 
she  said,  wearily.  "  I  am  afraid.  It  is  quite 
dark  among  the  shrubbery.  There  are  all  sorts 
of  creeping  things  and  flying  things  there — and 
there  may  be  also  snakes.  We  will  go  through 
the  Quarters  ;  it  is  not  many  steps  further." 

"  No,  no,  Miss  Jane.      Do  not  go  that  way.'* 

"  But  why  ?  " 

"  Perhaps — it  is  picking  time,  Miss  Jane  ; 
some  one  is  sure  to  be  short.  Please,  Miss 
Jane — not  that  way." 

"  I  will  go  through  the  Quarters." 

They  went  on  silently  a  little  longer.  Jane 
breathed  the  hot,  damp  mist  hardly,  she  threw 
off  her  sunbonnet,  she  tried  to  hurry  but  could 
not.  The  sun  had  quite  gone,  but  they  were 
at  the  edge  of  the  Quarters.  Suddenly  there 
was  a  cracking,  switching,  lashing  sound,  and 
then  a  terrible  cry  in  the  darkness.  Jane  stood 
still,  trembling  from  head  to  feet.  Ere  she 
could  speak  there  was  a  repetition  of  the  sound 
and  of  the  cry.  She  turned  her  white  face  to 
Palma. 


BAD  AT  BES7\  285 

"  It  is  Gabe.  He  is  always  short.  His  fingers 
are  so  stiff.  He  never  can  pick  his  task,  unless 
some  one  helps  him — and  Mr.  Clay  measures 
very  hard  these  times." 

"  Do  you  mean  they  are  whipping  a  man  for 
not  picking  a  certain  quantity  of  tobacco?" 

"Yes,  Miss  Jane." 

"  Come  on  quickly.  Carry  the  child  to  the 
house.  Do  not  wait  for  me." 

All  the  forces  of  her  soul  were  in  open  revolt. 
She  now  walked  quicker  than  Palma;  walked 
straight  to  a  pen  of  undressed  logs  at  the  end 
of  the  little  street  of  cabins.  The  lash  and  the 
cry,  the  lash  and  the  cry,  followed  each  other 
as  quickly  as  her  steps.  Ere  she  reached  the 
place  of  torture,  the  man  had  paid  the  penalty 
for  his  short  work  ;  and  the  lash  now  called 
forth  the  shrill,  sharp  shriek  of  a  woman. 
Twice  it  smote  Jane's  ear,  and  then  she  rushed 
into  the  pen. 

A  horn  lantern  stood  on  the  earthen  floor. 
There  was  a  horrible  smell  of  warm  blood,  and 
a  far  more  horrible  emanation  of  invisible  spir 
itual  influences — cruelty,  human  agony,  and 
despair.  A  girl  was  standing  against  a  strong 
post ;  the  overseer  had  the  whip  raised  above 
her.  Nigel  sat  on  the  edge  of  a  rude  table, 
smoking  and  counting  the  strokes. 

Jane  took  in  every  detail  at  a  glance  before 
any  one  was  conscious  of  her  presence.  She 
was  at  that  moment  a  valiant  little  woman, 


266  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

who  had  no  doubts  of  either  God  or  herself, 
and,  with  the  majesty  of  a  soul  strong  in  in 
finite  pity  and  justice,  she  stepped  swiftly  to 
the  overseer,  and  called  in  clear,  peremptory 
tones : 

"  Stop,  sir !  Put  down  that  whip  !  "  and  with 
the  order  she  flashed  into  Clay's  face  a  look  he 
never  forgot. 

Then  Nigel,  stepping  forward,  said  with  a 
cold  politeness,  "  If  Madame  interferes,  Mr. 
Clay,  that  is  sufficient.  Go  to  your  cabin, 
Celia."  He  then  offered  Jane  his  arm  and  led 
her  toward  the  house.  He  never  spoke  to  her, 
and  for  a  few  moments  Jane  could  neither 
think  nor  speak.  All  her  being  was  a  storm  of 
feeling.  But  long  before  they  reached  the 
house  she  had  withdrawn  her  arm  from  her 
husband's  and  was  walking  proudly  alone.  He 
had  to  quicken  his  steps  to  keep  up  with  her. 
As  they  entered  the  door  the  light  in  the  hall 
showed  her  his  dark  face  crimson  with  passion, 
and  his  eyes  burning  with  a  sullen  fire. 

"  Go  into  the  parlor;  I  wish  to  speak  with 
you,  Madame." 

"  I  will  never  speak  to  you  again,  Nigel 
Forfar." 

And  at  that  hour  she  felt  that  it  would  be 
impossible  for  her  to  do  so.  She  locked  the 
door  of  her  room  and  knelt  down  at  her  boy's 
cradle  sobbing,  blending  with  her  sobs  pitiful 
little  prayers  to  God  for  help  and  comfort. 


BAD   AT  BEST.  287 

Palma  watched  her  with  a  stony  despair. 
"  She  asks  help  from  one  who  never  helps  !  "  she 
muttered.  But  Jane  knew  better.  The  thought 
of  what  she  might  have  to  resign — of  what  she 
ought,  perhaps  to  resign — filled  her  soul  with 
the  austere  sweetness  of  sacrifice.  And  the 
music  of  an  old  promise  rang  like  a  bugle  in 
her  memory  :  "  Grace  to  help!  Grace  to  help! 
Grace  to  help  in  every  time  of  need !  "  And  she 
said  it  over  and  over,  tasting  the  sweetness  of 
it  on  her  lips,  until  she  became  quiet  and  paci 
fied. 

Then  she  rose  up,  washed  her  face,  and  saidr 
"  Palma,  get  me  some  bread  and  coffee.  To 
night  I  shall  sit  up  and  think.  I  must  go  away 
from  here.  I  will  never  speak  to  my  husband 
again." 

But  circumstances  have  a  power  no  one  can 
resist,  and  that  are  beyond  reasoning  with. 
When  Jane  had  drank  her  coffee  and  become 
calm,  after  she  had  sat  silently  musing  about 
an  hour,  Nigel  came  to  her  room. 

"  Jane,  I  wish  to  speak  to  you.  Unlock  the 
door."  Then,  as  there  was  no  answer,  "  Your 
brother  Harry  is  here." 

She  rose  with  a  cry  of  gladness  and  was  going 
down  to  him,  but  Nigel  forcibly  led  her  back. 
He  motioned  Palma  away,  and  then  said, 
"  Jane,  you  have  behaved  very  badly.  You. 
have  grossly  insulted  me  before  my  slaves. 
Your  action  will  compel  me  to  even  greater 


2S8  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

severity  to  them.  Such  exhibicions  do  no 
good." 

Jane  was  silent. 

"  You  know  I  love  you  Yes,  I  do  love  you  ! 
Come,  let  Harry  be  peacemaker  between  us. 
I  do  not  wish  him  to  know — 

"I  shall  tell  Harry  everything,  and  ask  him 
to  take  me  back  to  father." 

The  threat  sprang  from  her  without  consid 
eration,  but  it  was  a  powerful  one.  To  stand 
well  in  the  church  and  with  his  neighbors,  that 
was  Nigel's  great  ambition.  To  be  talked 
about,  to  be  made  the  subject  of  gossip  in  bar 
rooms  and  paragraphs  in  newspapers,  that  was 
his  terror.  He  grasped  in  a  moment  all  the 
unpleasant  social  consequences  of  such  a  step, 
and  Jane  had  him  really  at  her  feet.  He  kissed 
her  fondly,  he  wooed  her  as  he  had  scarcely 
done  when  she  was  a  maiden.  He  reminded 
her  that  even  God  forgave  those  who  were 
sorry  for  their  fault,  and  in  twenty  minutes  she 
had  kissed  his  lips,  and  promised  to  come  like 
a  happy  wife  to  see  her  brbther. 

But  when  .Nigel  left  her  presence  there  was 
an  evil  smile  upon  his  lips,  and  he  muttered 
sarcastically  as  he  stepped  softly  from  step  to 
step  : 

"Well,  well,  if  I  have  not  the  virtue  to  for 
give  as  readily  as  Madame,  I  have  at  least  the 
prudence  to  forget — as  long  as  it  suits  me  to 
<do  so." 


CHAPTER  XV. 

INVINCIBLE     LOVE. 

"  Wisdom,  knowledge,  and  understanding  of  the  law  are  e>£ 
the  Lord  ;  Love  and  the  way  of  good  works  are  from  him.'' — 
Eccles. 

"  Heart  with  heart,  and  hand  in  hand,  go  upon  your  way.*' 

"  Love  makes  little  much,  when  our  joys  are  fe'w  ; 
And  when  most,  his  touch  gives  them  golden  hue." 

A  BOUT  the  time  Joe  Wilkins  reached  Mem- 
/"»  phis  again,  Marius  Bradford  sailed  the 
"  Arethusa  "  into  New  York  Bay.  It  was  a 
cold,  dull  morning,  with  a  pale  gray  light  in 
the  east,  a  pale  gray  sea  around,  and  low-lying 
white  mists  about  the  shores.  But  Marius  was 
above  the  horizon  around  him  ;  he  was  on  the 
mountain  tops  of  Love  and  Hope,  and  had  the 
sunshine  in  his  heart. 

Early  in  the  afternoon  he  had  brought  his 
ship  to  anchor,  and  was  ready  to  attend  to  his 
own  affairs.  He  dressed  with  great  care — a 
lover  who  does  not  do  so  is  but  a  poor  creature 
— and  he  was  quite  conscious  that  he  was  a 
handsome  man,  not  only  in  the  eyes  of  women,, 
but  also  in  the  regard  of  men.  For  his  sailors 
looked  proudly  at  their  captain  as  he  stepped 
from  his  ship  to  the  wharf  ;  and  standing  still 
with  their  hands  upon  their  hips,  watched  his 
289 


290  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

fine  form  out  of  sight.  And  the  man  could  be 
read  in  his  walk,  which  was  quick  and  elastic, 
yet  firm  as  that  of  one  who  steps  from  a  high 
to  a  low  place. 

He  went  northward  very  rapidly,  without 
turning  his  head  to  the  right  or  the  left,  and 
about  two  o'clock  knocked  at  the  door  of 
Major  Mason's  house.  He  had  no  irresolution 
and  no  timidity.  Virginia  had  told  him  that 
he  was  beloved  ;  had  promised  to  be  his  wife  ;  a 
perfect  understanding  was  between  them  ;  and 
a  perfect  love  had  cast  out  fear. 

Lunch  was  over ;  Major  Mason  was  reclining 
in  his  chair,  more  than  half  asleep  ;  Virginia 
-sat  at  a  table  copying  the  score  of  a  new  song 
she  intended  to  send  to  Jane.  The  house  was 
perfectly  still ;  the  silence  in  the  room  so  great 
that  the  slight  movement  of  Virginia's  pen 
made  distinct  impressions  of  sound.  Sud 
denly  some  one  touched  the  knocker;  the  ap 
plication  was  impulsive,  was  in  reality  the  im 
petuous  demand  of  a  happy  comer.  The 
Major  stirred  lazily,  and  took  his  crimson  ban 
danna  from  his  face.  Virginia  turned  her  head 
to  the  door,  and  sat  waiting  with  the  pen  poised 
in  her  hand. 

In  a  moment  she  blushed  vididly;  she 
dropped  her  pen,  she  stood  upright,  listening, 
waiting.  For  the  echo  of  a  voice,  the  echo  of 
a  step,  had  touched  her  senses  with  an  instan 
taneous  conviction.  She  did  not  speak,  she 


INVINCIBLE  LOVE.  291 

had  scarcely  time  ;  the  door  opened,  and  Ma- 
rius  entered.  His  eyes  fell  upon  Virginia  ;  he 
saw  no  one  else.  Before  a  word  could  be 
spoken,  he  had  taken  her  to  his  heart  and 
kissed  her. 

The  Major's  pale  face  was  like  a  flame.  He 
stood  up,  the  incarnation  of  angry  amaze 
ment;  and,  stepping  toward  the  lovers,  sepa 
rated  them  by  a  word  and  an  authoritative 
motion. 

"  Captain  ! " 

"It  is  my  fault,  dear  father.  I — I  called  him 
by — with  a  look — it  is  my  fault." 

"  Major,  it  is  my  fault.  I  ought  to  have  had 
better  control.  Sir,  your  daughter  has  done 
me  the  inconceivable  honor  to  love  me — to 
promise  to  be  my  wife." 

"  Virginia  !  and  you  never  told  me." 

"  It  was  my  place,  Major,  to  make  the  con 
fession  to  you.  I  came  at  this  hour  to  do  so. 
It  is  the  first  opportunity  I  have  had  since  the 
happiest  hour  of  my  life." 

As  he  was  speaking,  Virginia  quietly  left  the 
room,  and  the  father  and  lover,  unembarrassed 
by  her  presence,  soon  came  to  a  gentlemanly 
discussion  of  the  subject. 

"  But,  indeed,  there  is  nothing  to  discuss," 
said  the  Major,  with  a  pathetic  sadness.  "  If 
Virginia  has  given  her  heart  to  you,  it  is  the 
idlest  of  forms  to  ask  me  for  her  hand  :  of 
course  -a  necessary  form,  but — I  was  going  tc 


292  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

say  a  few  hard  words,  Captain.  I  will  bury 
them  in  my  own  heart.  I  have  just  lost  my 
daughter,  sir ;  be  patient  with  me.  I  have  no 
one  else." 

"  No,  Major.  You  have  not  lost  Virginia. 
She  has  loved  me  since  we  sailed  together 
more  than  a  year  ago  ;  has  she  therefore  loved 
you  less?  Have  you  been  sensible  of  any 
change  ?  And  why  look  for  change  now  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir.  She  has  loved  me  less.  I  have 
often  been  sensible  of  a  change.  If  she  was 
thinking  of  you,  could  she  also  be  thinking  of 
me?  I  tell  you  the  heart  has  but  one  lord  and 
master — lesser  loves  are  many,  but  they  give 
place  to  the  one  supreme  love." 

"  It  is  the  natural  way,  Major." 

"  The  ways  of  nature  are  nevertheless  ex 
tremely  cruel,  and  hard  to  bear.  So  suddenly, 
too.  Why  did  you  not  tell  me?  let  me  sus 
pect  ?  " 

"  I  have  seen  Miss  Mason  but  seldom  ;  unto 
the  very  last  hour  of  my  last  visit  to  New 
York,  I  hardly  dared  to  let  hope  live." 

"  And  then,  in  one  hour,  all  doubt  gone  ; 
and  you  claim  the  uttermost  as  your  right? 
Impossible  ! " 

"  Major,  through  many  days  and  weeks  my 
ship  keeps  her  nose  to  the  sea.  Sometimes  it 
is  fair  weather  and  fair  wind  ;  but  more  often 
the  blasts  strike  her  sails  with  musketry,  and 
her  decks  are  washed  by  plunges  of  green 


INVINCIBLE  LOVE.  293 

water.  She  takes  the  blows  passively,  and. 
with  her  head  to  harbor,  doggedly  pushes 
along  ;  and  then  some  hour  the  land  is  there, 
and  the  harbor  made,  and  all  is  well.  It  was 
just  so  with  my  love  for  your  daughter. 
Through  days  and  weeks  of  doubt  and  despair 
T  kept  on  loving  ;  and  then,  when  I  was  here 
last,  there  was  a  look,  a  word,  that  was  like 
the  cry  of  '  land  in  sight'  to  the  sailor.  I 
knew  she  loved  me.  I  spoke — what  man 
would  not  have  spoken  ?  And  I  made  the 
loveliest  heart-harbor  that  ever  man  found. 
When  will  you  give  Virginia  to  me  ?  " 

"  Sir,  you  are  too  impetuous.     You  scarcely 
yet  know  the  woman  you  would  marry." 
"  I  knew  her  the  first  moment  we  met." 
"  Lovers'  hyperboles  are  not  facts,  Captain. 
I  say  you  do  not  know  Virginia.     I  say  that 
Virginia  does  not  know  you.     It  is  my  duty  to 
protect    her   when    her   own    weakness  would 
betray  her  to  a  foolish  step."     He  touched  the 
bell  sharply,  and  remained  silent  until  it  was 
answered. 

"  Request  Miss  Mason  to  come  here." 
In  a  few  minutes  Virginia  answered  the 
summons.  She  went  straight  to  her  father. 
She  put  her  arms  around  his  neck,  and  laid 
her  lips  upon  his  lips.  She  murmured  in  his 
ear  the  sweetest  words  of  love  and  entreaty : 

"  I    love     Marius,     father,    just    as    dearest 
mother  loved  you.     I  love  him  because  he  is 


294  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

so  noble-hearted,  so  good.  I  don't  mind  that 
he  is  poor." 

"  My  darling !  He  will  scarcely  ever  be 
with  you.  A  sailor's  wife  hath  always  fear, 
and  her  husband  is  the  cause  of  her  anxiety, 
instead  of  being  her  support  in  it.  In  all  the 
trials  of  womanhood  you  may  be  alone.  In 
stead  of  being  your  daily  comforter  he  will  be 
engaged  in  a  ceaseless  battle  with  winds  and 
waves  that  can  never  be  conquered." 

"  A  sailor's  wife  is  the  wife  of  a  hero,  father. 
She  catches  heroism  from  him.  And  Marius 
conquers  the  winds  and  waves  every  time  they 
try  to  be  his  master  instead  of  his  servant. 
And  I  shall  always  have  you  with  me.  Can  I 
fear  then  ?  Can  I  want  any  good  thing  with 
my  father  by  my  side  ?  If  I  love  Marius 
much  as  his  wife,  I  shall  love  you  as  your 
daughter  just  as  truly.  Father,  we  have 
always  been  so  close  to  each  other,  so  dear  to 
each  other,  for  my  sake  love  Marius  now ; 
you  will  soon  love  him  for  his  own  sake." 

She  had  grown  more  eloquent  and  less  timid 
with  every  word.  Her  arms  were  still  around 
her  father,  but  her  head  was  thrown  slightly 
backward,  and  her  beautiful,  lifted  face  was  so 
radiant,  so  full  of  entreaty,  so  altogether  persua 
sive,  that  it  was  impossible  to  argue  furtherwith 
a  power  so  compelling.  Love  made  her  for 
the  time  that  splendor  of  womanhood,  whose 
invincibility  is  in  the  confession  of  her  weakness. 


INVINCIBLE  LOVE.  295 

The  Major  glanced  at  Marius,  who  stood 
gazing  at  his  lovely  intercesssor  with  a  face  of 
adoring  affection.  He  put  out  his  hand  to  him, 
he  laid  Virginia's  hand  in  her  lover's;  he  left 
them  alone  with  their  unspoken  hopes  and 
happiness. 

An  old  man's  woes  count  double,  and  if 
Marius  was  at  the  full-tide  of  joy,  the  Major 
was  at  his  lowest  water-mark.  He  was  disap 
pointed  in  many  respects  in  Virginia's  choice. 
She  had  gone  out  of  her  own  circle  for  a  hus 
band.  He  could  find  no  fault  with  Marius,  but 
even  if  he  was  perfect  he  did  not  want  him  for 
a  son-in-law.  At  that  hour  he  was  very  un 
happy,  and  he  walked  slowly  about  his  desolate 
room,  shivering  both  in  mind  and  in  body. 
For  the  gray,  misty  morning  had  become  a 
stormy  afternoon,  and  the  cloud-wet  lawn,  and 
the  ceaseless  rain  sweeping  before  a  long, 
lamentable  blast,  helped  his  disappointment  to 
depress  him. 

Near  his  window  there  was  a  very  old  tree 
with  which  he  had  close  sympathies.  When 
it  put  forth  leaves  in  the  spring  he  congratu 
lated  it  ;  he  fed  the  birds  that  built  in  its 
branches,  and  he  resented  with  it  the  autumn 
storms  that  left  it  bare.  This  afternoon  it  had 
been  rudely  awakened  out  of  its  winter  sleep, 
and  it  was  tossing  its  limbs,  uttering  angry 
soughings  and  sighings,  hating  a  high  wind,  and 
knowing  how  near  one  was.  Just  so  the  Major 


29*  SHE  LOVED  A   SAILOR. 

had  been  awakened  out  of  his  peaceful, 
domestic  life.  The  future  had  suddenly  be 
come  restless  and  dark  to  him ;  it  had  been 
light  and  stable  and  full  of  understood  and 
beloved  possibilities.  He  could  not  help  feel 
ing  this  rude  awakening  to  changed  and  un 
known  circumstances. 

**  Surely  I  have  the  capacity  of  leaping  into 
the  dark  as  cheerfully  as  most  men,*"  he  said, 
grimly,  **  but  I  wish  I  were  a  little  younger." 

For  it  is  a  dismal  hour  when  we  lift  life's 
garland  and  find  that  its  leaves  have  nearly 
dropped  away — a  dismal  hour,  truly,  if  we  have 
no  hope  beyond.  But  this  man  knew  on  what 
wings  to  mount  above  his  fret  and  heartache. 
His  Bible  lay  open  on  its  stand.  He  went  to 
it  and  laid  his  hand  upon  the  page,  and.  thus 
standing,  with  reverent  heart  recalled  God's 
promises  to  the  aged  and  the  lonely.  It  was 
the  first  time  in  all  his  life  that  he  had  been 
brought  to  a  strait  where  he  needed  them,  and 
he  said  gratefully,  as  he  turned  away  com- 
fortedr  M  O  wonderful  and  blessed  Book !  fit 
ting  into  every  fold  of  the  human  heart.** 

And  when  the  human  heart  is  at  one  with 
the  heart  of  God,  it  cannot  be  miserable,  for 
then  selfish  cares  fly  away,  and  sorrow  flies  with 
them.  He  lay  down  and  slept  heavily,  and 
when  he  awakened  some  one  had  been  in  his 
room  and  lit  the  fire  and  gently  drawn  the  cur 
tains,  and  the  pleasant  place  was  full  of  leap- 


INVINCIBLE  LOVE.  297 

in^  lights  and  shadows.  Then  he  dressed  for 
dinner  and  went  down-stairs.  Marios  rose  to 
meet  him,  Virginia  spoke  to  him  with  a  kiss. 
There  was  so  much  happiness  in  the  room,  he 
could  not  help  but  catch  it.  And  after  dinner 
Mr.  Keteltas  came  in,  and  they  had  a  game  of 
chess,  and  then  some  mulled  wine  and  toast, 
and  Virginia  and  Marius  sang  together  dear 
old-fashioned  musical  ballads,  long  forgotten — 
"  The  Soldier's  Tear,"  "  He  Never  Said  he 
Loved,"  "  The  Sailor's  Farewell  to  Home," 
and,  last  of  all,  that  fine  pilgrim  song  which 
old  men  still  quaver  feebly,  and  young  men 
might  learn  and  roll  onward : 


Over  die  mountain  ware. 
See  !  where  they  come  ; 
Storm-cloud  and  wi 


Welcome  them  home. 

Yet,  where  the  sounding  gale 

Howls  to  the  sea. 

There  their  song  peak  along. 

Deep-toned  and  free. 

Pilgrims  and  Wanderers. 

Hither  w«  come : 

Where  the  free  dare  to  be. 

This  is  our  home. 

Dim  jtrew  the  forest  patk. 

Onward  they  trod, 

Finn  beat  their  noble  beets, 

Trusting  in  God. 

Gray  men  and  blooming  malax 

High  rose  their  song. 


*98  SHE   LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

Hear  it  sweep,  clear  and  deep, 
Ever  along. 

Pilgrims  and  Wanderers, 

Hither  we  come  ; 

Where  the  free  dare  to  be, 

This  is  our  home. 

And  in  the  mean  tyne  the  two  old  friends  kept 
up,  over  the  board  and  the  hearth,  their  discus 
sion  of  the  "  greatest  and  best  "  of  presidents, 
and  his  late  message. 

"  We  shall  not  agree  upon  its  main  counts,, 
so  we  will  agree  to  differ,  Mr.  Keteltas  ;  but 
what  think  you  of  the  bringing  it  by  express 
in  little  more  than  twelve  hours — two  hundred 
and  thirty  miles?  " 

"  It  shows  what  money  can  do  ;  it  costs  seven 
hundred  dollars,  and  nobody  wanted  the  mes 
sage  particularly.  I  see  Jackson  asks  permis 
sion  of  Congress  to  threaten  and  menace  France 
— to  bully  her  out  of  twenty-five  million  of 
francs.  He  must  know  by  this  time  that  he  can 
take  what  power  he  pleases.  It  is  very  pretty 
behavior  in  him  to  ask  Congress  at  all,  for  he 
will  do  in  the  end  whatever  he  wants  to  do." 

"  The  Constitution  and  the  laws " 

"  Are  but  straws  in  his  path.  King  William 
of  England,  or  poor  Louis  Philippe,  may  need 
legislative  sanction,  but  Andrew  Jackson  is 
above  all  such  petty  trammels  as  bound  Wash 
ington  or  Jeff  j:son." 

"  Being  Andrew  Jackson." 

"Exactly;  being  Andrew  Jackson.    But,  my 


INVINCIBLE  LOVE.  299 

friend,  a  political  message  ought  not  to  contain 
such  words  as  '  reprisals,'  '  seizures,'  '  sequestra 
tion,'  and  '  taking  redress  into  our  own  hands.' 
The  Cabinet  thought  so  also  ;  but  a  person  who 
knows  told  me  that  Jackson  would  not  abate 
a  word  for  all  their  suggestions.  'Gentlemen,' 
he  said,  'I  know  them  French.  They  won't 
pay  unless  they  are  made  to  pay.' ' 

"  I  am  quite  sure  that  Jackson  will  make  them 
pay ;  and  he  is  right.  France  owes  us  the 
money." 

"  Well,  it  is  a  far  cry  back  to  spoliations  com 
mitted  in'  Napoleon's  time." 

"  They  were  acknowledged  four  years  ago, 
and  France  then  agreed  to  pay  us  twenty-five 
million  francs  in  six  annual  payments.  She 
has  not  paid  her  first  installment  yet,  and  now 
the  Chamber  of  Deputies  refuse  to  make  any 
appropriation  for  the  debt.  I  say,  then, 
Jackson  does  right  to  make  them  keep  their 
word." 

"  Jackson's  most  offensive  quality  to  me  is 
his  patronage  of  the  United  States  Govern 
ment.  He  really  believes  that  Heaven  ap 
pointed  him  its  savior." 

"All  great  men  have  thought  themselves 
more  or  less  inspired." 

"Well,  at  present  he  has  the  right  of  the 
strongest,  and  we  must  submit." 

"  There  is  a  right  of  the  wisest,  but  a  right 
of  the  strongest  does  not  exist,  my  friend." 


300  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

To  this  undertone  of  states  and  kings,  quar 
rels  about  money  and  threats  of  war,  Marius 
and  Virginia  sung  their  antiphony  of  mutual 
love — simple,  homely  rhymes,  which  became 
luminous  in  the  light  of  their  eyes,  and  full  of 
heavenly  melody  caught  from  the  divine  song 
in  their  hearts. 

Nothing  was  said  to  Keteltas  on  the  subject, 
and  when  he  turned  his  mind  from  the  great 
national  themes  which  absorbed  the  general 
conversation,  he  spoke  of  Jane's  severe  illness, 
and  of  his  grandson.  His  face  changed  wonder 
fully  as  soon  as  he  uttered  her  name,  and  his 
voice  lost  its  sharp,  argumentative  tone  ;  it  was 
as  gentle  as  a  woman's. 

"  She  is  better,  thank  God  !  but  the  little 
woman  is  not  happy,  I  think,  Major;  the  life  is 
so  strange  to  her. "  I  wish  she  was  nearer  to 
me.  I  have  been  lonelier  than  you  can  imag 
ine.  And  Harry  is  so  restless.  To  roam  and 
to  fight,  that  is  his  idea!  He  talks  of  Texas, 
and  Houston,  and  Liberty,  till  he  almost  sets 
my  old  heart  on  fire." 

"  Is  the  pulpit  box  a  natural  place  for  so 
strong  and  vivid  and  restless  a  spirit?  It  is 
like  tying  an  eagle  to  a  perch,  or  putting  a 
yoke  on  a  wild  stag.  If  nature  has  told  the 
boy  to  go  and  fight  for  freedom,  you  cannot 
put  him  into  a  pulpit  to  preach  the  straitest  of 
creeds,  and  expect  him  to  stay  there." 

"  I    am   thinking   of    bringing   him  to    New 


INVINCIBLE  LOVE.  301 

York.  I  will  put  him  into  business.  Eh  ! 
Major,  what  do  you  think  of  that  ?" 

"  If  he  were  my  boy,  I  would  buy  him  a  rifle 
and  give  him  a  thousand  dollars,  and  let  him 
work  out  his  own  life ;  it  is  often,  to  a  good 
youth,  working  out  his  salvation." 

"  He  is  all  I  have.  I  cannot  make  up  my 
heart  to  part  with  Harry.  Well,  I  must  go 
now."  He  turned  to  Virginia  and  Marius 
then,  and  said  a  few  words  to  one  about  Jane, 
and  to  the  other  about  the  coming  of  Atlantic 
steamships,  and  so,  talking  of  this  and  that, 
went  out  of  the  room  with  an  old-fashioned 
grace  and  politeness  that  was  very  pleasant. 

Major  Mason  went  with  him  to  the  door, 
and  they  lingered  in  the  hall  a  little,  talking  at 
the  last  moment  of  the  great  rise  in  value  of 
real  estate  on  Long  Island. 

"  Abraham  Schermerhorn  has  sold  his  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  seventy  acres,  three  miles 
out  of  Brooklyn,,  for  one  hundred  and  two 
thousand  dollars ;  and  now  he  is  worrying 
because  he  sold  it  so  cheap.  He  offered  it  to 
me  four  years  ago  for  eighteen  thousand  dol 
lars.  I  wish  I  had  bought  it.  You  have  a  few 
acres  there,  I  believe  ?" 

"  Virginia  has.  Her  mother  left  the  land 
for  her  personal  use." 

"  Then  she  is  rich,  if  she  knows  how  to  sell 
at  the  market  hour.  Look  after  her  interests. 
Major." 


302  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

"I  will."  He  watched  Keteltas  go  carefully 
down  the  slippery  steps — for  the  rain  had 
ceased  and  it  had  begun  to  freeze — and  turn 
toward  his  home.  His  air  of  loneliness  struck 
the  major  very  painfully,  for  an  old  man  is 
lonely  indeed  who  has  no  wife  or  daughter 
near  him.  Then  a  feeling  of  gratitude  came 
into  his  heart.  Virginia's  choice  would  not, 
at  least,  separate  them.  Her  children  would 
grow  up  at  his  knees.  He  would  go  down  to 
the  grave  in  the  company  of  those  he  loved. 
And,  so  wonderful  a  thing  is  thought,  that,  as 
he  delayed  a  moment  in  the  hall  to  regulate 
his  watch  by  the  great  clock  standing  there,  he 
suddenly  remembered  an  inscription  he  had 
seen  upon  a  Christian  tomb  in  the  Roman  Cat 
acombs  :  "  Whatsoever  impious  man  violates 
this  sepulcher,  may  he  die  the  last  of  his  peo 
ple  !  "  He  understood,  as  he  slowly  turned 
the  hands  of  his  watch,  how  miserable  such  a 
fate  might  be  ;  and  the  gentleness  and  the  in 
dulgent  love  and  wisdom  of  his  years  and  his 
nature  made  him  feel  a  tender  regret  for  his 
apparent  want  of  sympathy  in  his  child's  hap 
piness. 

So  he  re-entered  the  parlor  full  of  this  loving, 
.self-disparaging  compunction.  The  music  had 
ceased.  Virginia  and  Marius  were  sitting  to 
gether.  He  noticed  particularly  the  great  phys 
ical  beauty  of  Marius  ;  his  fresh,  free,  open-air 
look ;  he  liked  his  eager  wooing  ;  the  impetu- 


INVINCIBLE  LOVE.  303 

ous  admiration  that  he  cared  not  to  hide  ;  the 
exuberant  joy  in  his  love,  which  would  have 
made  him,  to  those  uninterested,  almost  offen 
sively  happy.  His  arm  held  close  his  treasure  ; 
his  brown,  glowing,  bending  face  almost  touched 
the  rose-like  bloom  of  Virginia's  cheek  ;  he 
clasped  her  hand,  and  it  lay  in  his  like  a  white 
lily  just  gathered. 

Virginia  smiled  at  her  father.  With  eyes 
and  lips  she  smiled  at  the  same  time,  and  he 
went  to  her  and  caressed  her,  and,  as  he  did 
so,  looked  into  her  lover's  face  and  said: 

"  Marius." 

The  young  man  stood  up  to  meet  the  word. 
It  was  the  recognition  of  his  right.  It  was  the 
making  of  his  own  name  the  password  into  the 
household  and  into  the  heart  of  its  master. 

"  Marius,  my  son." 

"  Father." 

"  We  are  a  threefold  cord  ;  nothing  shall 
separate  us  ?  " 

"  Nothing.     Virginia  binds  us  forever." 

And  then,  as  he  looked  at  Marius  and  Vir 
ginia,  he  was  conscious  of  a  fourth — a  tender, 
ghostly  Presence,  who  made  the  air  sweet 
around  him,  and  the  whole  room  sensitive,  and 
he  was  led  by  it  to  a  large,  half-faded  pastel  in 
his  room — the  shadowy  verisimilitude  of  his  own 
love  when  she  was  a  maiden  of  Virginia's  age. 

His  sorrow  for  her  loss  was  over  ;  he  had  be 
gun  rather  to  anticipate  the  joy  of  their  meet- 


304  SHE    LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

ing.  There  had  been  a  time  when  he  had  never 
passed  the  spot  without  lifting  his  eyes  to  this 
picture  of  a  vanished  face  ;  but  latterly  it  had 
seldom  called  him.  He  now  stood  before  it  ; 
he  demanded  from  it  the  memory  he  wanted  ; 
the  spring  day  when  he  won  her  promise.  The 
apple  trees  were  in  full  flower,  and  the  bees  de 
lirious  with  delignt  among  them.  And  they 
sat  down  under  the  pink  and  silvery  domes  to 
gether,  and  looked  through  them  to  the  blue 
sky,  and  heard  the  robins  singing  to  each  other, 
and  the  little  frogs  calling  discreetly  at  the 
edge  of  the  brook.  He  remembered  the  lilac 
dress  she  wore,  and  the  spray  of  apple  blossoms 
at  her  bosom  ;  and,  above  all,  the  look  in  her 
eyes  and  the  smile  on  her  lips,  and  the  kiss  that 
sealed  their  betrothal. 

And  then,  by  some  wonderful  mental  sym 
pathy  that  abrogated  time  and  distance,  his 
mind  found  its  utterance  through  the  mind  of 
the  greatest  of  Greeks  ;  and  in  a  low  voice  he 
repeated  a  sentence  from  that  glorious  invoca 
tion  with  which  the  elders  of  Thebes,  half  in 
awe  and  half  in  wonder,  celebrated  the  irresist- 
,ble  and  all-pervading  power  of  Love — mightier 
than  kings,  strong  as  death,  leveling  all  dis 
tinction  : 

"  Invincible  Love  !  Thou  who  dost  rest 
upon  the  delicate  cheek  of  the  maiden  ;  thou 
who  dost  traverse  all  seas  :  surely  none  among 
the  immortals  escape  thee  :  nor  yet,  indeed,  any 


INVINCIBLE  LOVE.  305 

among  men,  though   they  live   but    for  a  little 
space."  * 

Also,  that  night  Virginia  did  not  write  any 
thing  in  her  diary.  She  was  too  supremely 
happy  to  think  of  writing  her  happiness  down. 

*  Sophocles,  "  Antigone.'' 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

A  TRIP  TO   ENGLAND. 

''  Here  the  heart 

May  give  a  useful  lesson  to  the  head, 
And  Learning  wiser  grow  without  his  books." 

"  Thus  grief  still  treads  upon  the  heels  of  pleasure  ; 
Married  in  haste,  we  may  repent  at  leisure." 

44  The  path  of  sorrow,  and  that  path  alone, 
Leads  to  the  land  where  sorrow  is  unknown.'' 

VIRGINIA'S  betrothal  was  followed  by  a 
year  of  great  happiness.  All  the  circum 
stances  of  her  life  conduced  toward  this  end, 
and  she  did  not  seek  for  or  invent  imaginary 
troubles.  Marius  had,  indeed,  been  a  little  dis 
appointed  concerning  his  wish  for  a  speedy 
marriage,  but  Virginia  was  not  inclined  to 
hurry  forward  the  days  of  sweet  content  and 
radiant  hope,  and  the  Major  had  positively  set 
himself  against  hurry  in  the  matter.  "  I  want 
Virginia  to  be  sure  of  her  heart,  Captain,"  he 
said.  "  I  want  her  to  know  you  better,  to  know 
you  when  the  glamor  of  romance  concerning 
your  profession  has  become  a  familiar  thing. 
In  one  year  you  can  see  each  other  only  about 
six  weeks.  How  much  can  you  learn  of  your 
individual  tastes  and  feelings  in  that  time  ?  Do 
306 


A    TRIP    TO   ENGLAND.  307 

not  hurry  happy  days.  Give  every  season  of 
life  its  full  harvest." 

But  though  these  words  had  an  unsympa 
thetic  ring,  the  heart  of  the  father  was  full  of 
feeling  for  his  daughter ;  and  one  morning, 
when  the  first  leaves  of  the  trees  were  still  pale 
and  chilly,  and  spring  showers,  with  moist  vir 
tue,  were  softly  cleaving  the  buds,  he  said  : 

"  Virginia,  I  have  not  been  very  well.  I 
think  I  want  to  feel  the  pulsing  floor  of  the  sea 
again,  and  to  hear  the  large  music  of  waves 
singing  to  waves.  I  have  such  restless  memor 
ies  of  the  gray  clouds  and  broken  lights  and 
streaming  storms  and  scudding  sea-birds.  The 
ruddy  dawns  we  watched  on  the  '  Arethusa  ' 
haunt  me,  and  last  night  when  the  moon  rose  I 
could  not  help  longing  to  see  it  once  more  drop 
to  the  sea-line  like  an  opal  bow.  Let  us  go  to 
Liverpool  with  Marius  this  May.  We  can  re 
main  a  few  weeks  in  England,  and  return  with 
him  in  September." 

She  looked  up  like  a  song  of  thanksgiving. 
Her  face  broke  up  into  smiles,  she  put  down 
the  cup  in  her  hand,  and  stepped  to  her  father's 
side  and  kissed  him.  "You  are  the  sweetest  of 
fathers ;  you  are  like  what  my  dear  mother 
would  have  been." 

"  It  pleases  me  to  be  so,  dear.  Besides,  it 
will  give  you  and  Marius  two  whole  months  of 
each  other's  society — and  that  will  shorten  pro 
bation  If  you  are  still  satisfied  with  him  in 


SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

September,  then,  my  darling,  get  your  pretty 
things  in  order,  and  we  will  have  the  wedding 
in  the  spring.  Who  can  we  leave  in  charge  of 
the  house  ?  " 

"  Nelly,  of  course." 

"  But  I  thought  she  was  to  be  married  next 
month." 

"  I  do  not  believe  it.  She  said  to  me  this 
morning  '  She  was  none  sure  of  herself,  and  still 
less  sure  of  John  Thomas.'  I  think  there  has 
been  what  Nelly  calls  'a  difference'  lately." 

"You  had  better  inquire  about  it,  then.  If 
Nelly  stays  we  can  go  with  very  easy  minds." 

After  breakfast  Virginia  went  to  the  large 
parlor  and  found  Nelly  there.  She  was  busy 
with  her  duster,  and  the  prompt  way  in  which 
she  was  handling  the  chairs,  and  the  positive 
flip  of  the  cloth,  were  very  indicative  of  some 
mental  altercation. 

"  Good-morning,  Nelly." 

"  Good-morning,  Miss.  It  isn't  t*  day  for 
dusting,  but  I  feel  as  if  it  would  do  me  good 
to  wipe  things  off  a  bit." 

"  Is  something  wrong,  Nelly?  Are  you 
sick  ?  " 

"  Well,  Miss,  though  I'm  none  of  them  twit 
tering  women  that  hes  a  knack  of  making 
things  worse  than  they  are,  I'm  feared  I've 
been  making  a  fool  of  mysen  about  a  lad  as 
never  existed,  only  in  my  awn  soft  head  and 
heart.  I've  found  out  my  mistake  in  time  for 


A    TRIP    TO  ENGLAND.  309 

sure;  but  I  feel  just  like  somebody  I  liked  was 
dead." 

"  Sit  down,  Nelly,  and  tell  me  about  it.  I 
dare  say  it  is  all  your  fault." 

"  No,  Miss.  It  isn't  my  fault.  John  Thomas 
hes  been  going  to  t'  Wesleyan  Chapel  ivery 
Sunday  night  lately  with  his  landlady's  daugh 
ter — a  varry  bonny  lass.  He  says  he  wants  to 
save  her  soul,  and  that  she  is  varry  bad  in  her 
mind  about  it.  I  said  nothing  against  that  for, 
two  or  three  weeks,  and  then  I  thought  it  was 
about  time  t'  job  wer  done.  You  remember, 
Miss,  three  nights  ago,  I  went  down  Broadway 
pretty  late,  for  some  medicine  for  master,  and 
who  should  I  meet  but  John  Thomas  and  t' 
lass  whose  soul  he  is  so  fain  to  save.  They 
looked  most  like  sweethearting  as  iver  I  saw. 
I  said,  '  Good-night,  John  Thomas.  Is  this  t' 
road  to  t'  Wesleyan  Chapel,  my  lad  ? '  and  he 
were  that  dumfoundered  he  couldn't  say  a  word 
back." 

"  Perhaps  he  had  no  opportunity.  I  dare 
say  you  went  straight  on." 

"  What  would  I  stop  for?  But  he  came  t' 
next  morning  for  his  opportunity.  I  were 
washing  a  few  things  out,  and  I  never  lifted 
my  eyes  to  notice  him.  He  said,  '  Morning, 
Nelly,'  and  I  said,  '  Doan't  thee  Nelly  me.  Go 
thy  ways  and  talk  to  Abby  Smith.  I've  got 
thy  measure,  my  lad,  and  it's  a  varry  short  one/ 
4  Is  that  your  meaning,  Nelly  Haworth  ?  '  he 


310  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

said,  and  I  spoke  back,  sharp-like,  '  Ay,  that  is 
all  I  hev  to  say  to  thee  on  any  subject.'     Then 
he   went  out,  and  slammed  t'  door  after  him  ; 
and  I  opened  it  quick  and  told  him  '  niver  to 
darken  it  again.'     He  stood  still  a  minit,  dazed- 
like,  and  then  walked  himsen  off,  looking  down 
at  his  shoes  as  he  went.    I  feel  varry  bad,  Miss." 
"  He  will  come  back  to  you  again,  Nelly." 
"  I  doan't  want  him  to  come  back." 
"  Did  he  not  speak  to  you  again  ?  " 
"  He  hed  nothing  to  say  for  himsen — but  as 
for  low-spirity  looks  !  if  he  could  hev  sold  them 
by  t'  yard  they  would  hev  set  up  an  undertaker 
for  a  year." 

"  Nelly,  we  think  of  going  to  England  this 
summer.  Will  you  stay  and  take  care  of  the 
house  ?  " 

"  I'll  be  right  glad  to.  I'll  not  marry  till  I 
know  what  I'm  marrying.  My  word!  marrying 
is  an  insane  doo,  anyhow  you  fix  it.  I  hev  all 
my  senses  yet,  Miss." 

It  was  then  the  latter  end  of  April,  and  the 
"  Arethusa  "  was  expected  early  in  May ;  so 
the  days  were  full  of  preparation.  And  the 
Major  had  that  exaltation  of  heart  which 
always  blessed  the  happiness-makers ;  and 
everything  around  was  in  accord  with  the 
glorious  weather  and  his  own  mental  atmos 
phere.  Jackson's  popularity  and  power  was  at 
its  highest  point  ;  there  was  great  enthusiasm 
and  energy  about  railway  affairs ;  the  Erie 


A     TRIP    TO   ENGLAND.  311 

Railway  was  just  beginning,  the  Boston  and 
Providence  was  nearly  finished.  Real  estate 
had  taken  a  marvelous  rise  ;  he  had  sold  Vir 
ginia's  land  for  a  small  fortune;  and  there  was 
hope  and  prosperity  in  all  public  matters,  ex 
cepting  on  the  Abolition  question. 

This  prosperous  national  atmosphere  is  a 
great  aid  to  private  content.  The  Major  be 
came  almost  young  again  in  his  daughter's 
evident  happiness  ;  for  she  went  singing  about 
the  house,  and  the  song  echoed  in  his  own 
heart  ;  while  her  smiles,  and  ready  mirth,  and 
eager  little  ways  of  adding  to  his  pleasure,  im 
parted  to  him  unconsciously  an  innocent  self- 
estimation  which  was  very  exhilarating.  They 
went  on  board  the  "  Arethusa  "  full  of  hope, 
and  ready  to  smile  and  chatter  about  every 
trivial  event. 

And  what  a  voyage  it  was !  only,  with  that 
perversity  which  often  dogs  great  happiness, 
all  nature  seemed  determined  to  shorten  it. 
The  wind  was  too  favorable,  the  "  Arethusa  " 
went  flying  before  it  at  a  speed  that  took  her 
into  Liverpool  two  days  before  her  time  ;  and 
it  was  amusing  to  see  her  captain  frowning  at 
the  swelling  canvas,  and  upbraiding  the  favor 
able  breeze  as  if  it  was  his  unkindest  enemy. 

In  travel  and  rest,  in  love-letter  writing,  in 
reading,  in  dreams  of  Marius,  in  shopping,  in 
planning,  and  in  writing  to  Jane  Forfar  about 
her  husband  and  her  baby,  and  to  Nelly  about 


312  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

the  house,  the  soft,  cool  English  summer  sped 
away;  and  they  were  again  at  sea,  with  their 
hearts  and  faces  turned  to  New  York. 

How  proudly  Marius  trod  his  little  king 
dom  !  How  trig  and  bright  and  clean  every 
inch  of  the  "  Arethusa  "  had  been  made  for 
Virginia's  sake  !  With  what  shy,  pleased 
looks  the  sailors  watched  their  captain  and 
the  girl  who  was  to  be  his  wife  ! — for  Marius 
had  not  been  able  to  hide  the  fact  from  those 
who  knew  him  so  well.  They  saw  the  glance 
that  strangers  never  noticed — the  leaping  light 
into  his  face  when  she  answered  it  ;  they  un 
derstood  the  overhauling  the  ship  had  got  ; 
the  strictness  about  their  own  jackets  and 
caps ;  the  cook's  frantic  efforts  to  realize 
almost  impossible  dinners  and  desserts.  They 
knew  why  the  Captain  growled  sotto  voce  at 
fair  weather  and  fair  winds,  and  looked  so- 
smiling  and  complacent  when  the  sails  flapped 
idly  by  the  mast,  and  the  "  Arethusa "  just 
loitered  along  in  the  charming  September 
weather. 

"They  look  so  happy,"  said  the  boatswain, 
"  I'd  keep  them  drifting  for  a  twelvemonth,  if 
I  could  whistle  down  the  wind.  I  say  my 
prayers  at  the  mainmast,  and  not  in  a  church 
pew,  but  I'll  go  to  church  to  see  this  wedding." 

An  old  sailor  interrupted  him  with  an  almost 
passionate  anger.  "  What  are  you  naming  a 
bell-house  at  sea  for  ?  Do  you  want  to  bring; 


A    TRIP    TO  ENGLAND.  3*3 

ruin  on  crew,  ship,  and  cargo?  I'm  blessed  if 
I  haven't  a  mind  to  throw  you  overboard, 
Sheridan." 

The  man  turned  white,  and  turned  away, 
muttering:  "Pardon,  mates!  I  didn't  know 
myself  that  I  was  naming  anything  so  un- 
mcky." 

But  the  unfortunate  six  letters  did  not  at 
this  time  conjure  any  ill  to  the  "Arethusa." 
She  came  to  her  anchor  with  full  sails  and 
crowded  decks,  and  her  captain  sent  every  one 
from  her  with  a  good  word,  and  then  took  his 
seat  in  Major  Mason's  carriage  and  drove  home 
with  Virginia  for  his  first  meal  on  shore. 

In  the  evening  Jack  and  his  bride  called, 
and  Jack  was  as  peacocky  and  uxorious  as 
young  husbands  usually  are.  There  was  but 
one  fair,  good  wife  in  the  world,  and  Jack  had 
been  so  fortunate  as  to  secure  her.  He  looked 
with  positive  coolness  at  his  brother's  choice. 
The  love  of  Marius  and  Virginia  seemed  to 
Jack  such  a  very  poor  affair,  compared  with 
the  astounding  quality  of  Carrie's  and  his  own 
affection.  He  was,  figuratively,  at  his  wife's 
feet  all  the  evening.  He  was  afraid  that  the 
wind  might  blow  upon  her,  or  the  night  air  chill 
her,  or  the  dark  frighten  her,  only  in  the  latter 
case  he  was  by  her  side,  and  bold  as  a  lion  for 
her  defense. 

They  had  been  married  a  month,  and  Mr. 
'Gushing  had  given  his  daughter  a  pretty  house 


3^4  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

near  St.  John's  Park.  So  Jack  was  not  only  a 
husband,  he  was  a  householder ;  and  Marius 
could  not  help  laughing  at  the  lad's  wise  talk 
about  the  dearness  of  provisions,  and  the  old, 
old  trouble  of  servants.  Besides  which,  he  had 
been  promoted  in  the  office,  and  he  could  talk 
largely  or  mysteriously  of  great  events.  Marius 
listened  to  him  with  immense  delight.  He 
thoroughly  enjoyed  the  young  fellow's  conceit 
ed  happiness,  his  excess  of  self-satisfaction,  his 
endless  little  chimes  on  the  various  sides  of  his 
own  good  fortune.  When  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jack 
Bradford  left,  he  kissed  them  both  with  his  old 
tender  admiration,  and,  happily,  was  not  con- 
scious  that  Jack  was  a  trifle  offended  at  the 
elder  brother's  air,  the  tolerance  and  jocularity 
of  his  brother. 

"  I  think  Virginia  has  spoiled  Marius,"  he 
said  confidentially  to  Carrie  ;  and  Carrie  said, 
with  a  toss  of  her  pretty  head,  "  It  is  to  be 
plainly  seen  that  he  is  only  your  half-brother, 
dear  Jack.  You  are  so  superior  to  him — every 
way."  And  of  course  Jack  believed  his  wife; 
what  men  do  not,  when  their  wives  speak  com 
fortable  things? 

"  Isn't  he  set  up?"  asked  Marius.  "  Did  you 
ever  see  such  a  young  prince  ?  He  thinks  the 
world  was  made  for  him." 

"  I  think  he  is  very  disagreeable,"  answered 
Virginia.  "  He  was  really  selfish,  Marius — al 
most  rude.  Joy  should  not  make  people  selfish." 


A    TRIP    TO  ENGLAND.  315 

The  Major  smiled  as  he  gave  his  opinioa 
"Jack  has  a  great  deal  to  say  about  himself 
and  his  wife,  his  business,  his  opinions,  and  his 
friends.  It  is  said  that  twelve  bells  afford  scope 
for  nearly  five  hundred  million  permutations. 
Jack's  Ego  has  at  least  twelve  bells." 

The  little  chaffing  about  Jack's  marriage 
brought  on  a  serious  discussion  relating  to  the 
marriage  of  Virginia  and  Marius,  and  it  was 
finally  agreed  to  celebrate  it  during  the  spring 
visit  of  Marius  to  New  York — "April  or  May, 
as  it  happens,"  said  the  Major. 

"  April,  if  the  wind  goes  with  my  hopes  and 
longings,  Major." 

The  next  day  Mr.  Keteltas  called  very  early 
in  the  morning.  They  were  eating  breakfast, 
and  he  seemed  glad  of  the  delicious  cup  of  cof 
fee  Virginia  placed  at  his  side.  "  I  have  little 
comfort  in  eating  now,  my  dear,  I  am  so  lonely. 
Harry  has  gone,  too." 

"Gone?" 

"  Off  to  Texas,  my  dear.  The  country  has 
gone  mad  on  the  subject,  I  think.  You  should 
have  seen  the  young  fellows  leaving — two  hun< 
clred  and  forty  of  them — all  full  of  hope  and 
spirit.  And  the  crowds  that  cheered  them  ! 
And  the  cries  for  Houston  and  Crockett  and 
Jackson  !  I  was  almost  carried  away  with  the 
shouts.  A  few  hundred  Americans  fighting  for 
their  rights  and  liberty  the  whole  power  of 
Mexico!  It  looks  like  a  grand  fight.  Major! 


31 6  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

If  I  were  only  a  young  man,  I  too  would  gladly 
shoulder  a  musket  behind  Sam  Houston." 

"  A  few  against  a  many  always  touches  a 
noble  heart ;  and  when  that  handful  of  men 
are  Americans — our  own  brothers  in  race  and 
feeling — well,  it  is  right,  it  is  good,  to  go  and 
help  them.  I  am  sure  Harry  did  well.  I 
would  have  gone  with  him,  too — if  I  were  only 
twenty  years  younger." 

"  Give  me  leave  to  say  that  I  almost  forgot 
that  I  was  near  sixty.  When  Harry,  with  his 
bright  face  and  cheery  voice,  shouted  from  the 
deck,  '  Hurrah  for  Liberty  and  Houston ! 
Come  along,  father !  we  want  you  too  ! '  I 
thind,  Major,  I  really  think  I  would  have  taken 
the  boy's  invitation  if  some  one  had  not  just 
at  that  moment  hurrahed  for  Jackson  too.  I 
hesitated  at  that  cry,  and  at  the  moment  the 
ship  was  loosed,  and  off  she  went,  and  so  saved 
me  from  making  an  old  fool  of  myself.  It  was 
railways  and  real  estate  when  you  went  away ; 
it  is  Texas  and  Abolition  now." 

"  Where  will  they  end  ?  " 

"  Texas  will  end  in  the  independence  of  a 
great  province;  anon,  the  province  will  be  in  the 
Union.  That  is  the  stake  Jackson  and  Hous 
ton  are  playing  for.  Abolition  may  end  in 
civil  war,  in  horrors  unmentionable.  The  State 
of  Mississippi  has  just  offered  five  thousand 
dollars  for  the  delivery  of  any  person  buying 
or  sending  within  her  borders  Garrison's  fire- 


A    TRIP    TO  ENGLAND.  31 7 

brand  of  a  sheet,  or  any  other  abolition  paper. 
1  do  not  blame  them  much,  and  yet,  when  I 
read  Jane's  letters,  they  make  me  shiver." 

"  When  did  you  hear  last  from  her  ?  " 

"  About  a  week  since.  Harry  is  going  to  see 
her.  I  want  to  know  the  truth.  I  have  just 
come  back  from  Boston." 

"  Boston?" 

"  Yes,  my  dear.  Harry  has  talked  me  into 
a  fever  of  patriotism,  I  think,  and  when  I  had 
an  invitation  to  the  Concord  Jubilee  I  took 
myself  to  Concord — I  and  Deacon  Sears.  A 
very  solemn,  noble  celebration,  and  I  heard  a 
young  clergyman  speak  there,  of  whom,  I  take 
leave  to  say,  we  shall  all  hear  very  soon — the 
Rev.  Ralph  Waldo  Emerson,  a  fine  young  man 
indeed." 

"Who  else  of  note  was  present  ?" 

"  Well,  Major,  the  greatest  of  all  there,  I 
take  it,  were  ten  old  gentlemen  who  had  fought 
in  the  battle  of  Concord.  I  think  it  an  honor 
to  have  shaken  hands  with  them.  Yes,  I  am 
pleased  I  went  ;  for  an  odd  time,  it  was  better 
than  the  Exchange.  When  did  you  hear  from 
Jane,  my  dear?"  he  said,  turning  to  Virginia; 
"  let  me  know  the  truth  of  all  she  tells  you." 

"  You  can  rely  upon  Harry,  sir.  He  would 
have  sharp  eyes  for  anything  troubling  his 
sister." 

"  If  Harry  goes  there — he  said  he  would — 
but  young  men  with  a  rifle  in  their  hand,  and  a 


3I8  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

fight  before  them !  My  dear,  you  cannot  be 
their  surety.  No,  no." 

Yet  at  that  very  hour  Harry  was  sitting  by 
his  sister's  side,  trying  to  discover  the  secrei 
of  her  faded  beauty,  and  the  haunting  look  of 
trouble  in  her  once  bright  eyes.  She  had  come 
down  to  him  on  the  previous  evening  as  Nigel 
had  begged  her  to  do — "like  a  happy  wife"; 
and  the  first  hours  of  their  meeting  had  been 
so  full  of  question  and  answer,  and  of  merry 
interchange  of  talk,  that  Harry  was  quite  satis 
fied  with  the  domestic  happiness  of  his  sister. 
The  first  doubt  came  later  on,  when  Jane,  hav 
ing  exhausted  her  inquiries  about  Virginia's 
regular  life,  suddenly  asked :  "  Has  she  any 
new  lover  ?  or  is  Van  Buren  still  hoping  and 
waiting?  " 

"  I  hardly  know  how  to  answer  you,  Jane. 
A  certain  sea  captain  has  been  there  a  great 
deal  this  past  year,  and  the  Major  and  Virginia 
went  to  England  in  his  ship  last  May.  They 
were  still  away — as  I  have  told  you — when  I 
left." 

Jane's  rapid  mind  instantly  divined  the  truth, 
and  she  endeavored  to  turn  the  subject  at  once. 
Nigel  would  not  permit  it.  His  face  was  black 
with  suspicion,  and  he  glanced  with  cruel 
meaning  at  his  wife,  as  he  said  to  Harry : 

"  The  master  of  the  *  Arethusa,'  I  suppose—- 
Captain  Bradford  ?  " 

"  Yes,  that  is  the  name  of  the  man,  and  the 


A    TRIP    TO   ENGLAND.  3*9 

ship  also.  I  was  on  the  point  of  remembering 
them." 

"  I  am  not  likely  to  forget  them — the  very 
scoundrel  who  ran  off  two  of  my  slaves.  Miss 
Mason's  lover !  Oh,  I  begin  to  see  daylight 
now ! " 

Jane  was  sick  at  heart  ;  she  pretended  to 
hear  her  baby  crying,  and  left  the  room.  She 
was  wringing  her  small  hands  despairingly  as 
she  trailed  her  heavy  feet  and  heart  up-stairs. 
The  child  was  asleep  in  its  cradle.  Palma  lay 
vipon  the  floor  at  its  side.  She  also  was  asleep. 
Jane  sat  down  and  tried  to  think.  Was  it 
worth  while  to  lie  the  suspicion  away  ?  Had 
she  not  better  tell  Harry  the  truth?  It 
seemed  a  hopeless  task  to  combat,  or  even 
to  endure,  the  horror  of  sin  and  cruelty  which 
gathered  like  dense  clouds  above  and  around 
her.  And  the  great  horror  was  the  bringing  of 
her  child  up  in  such  an  atmosphere.  He 
might  grow  like  his  surroundings.  How  could 
she  train  him  differently  -without  setting  him 
at  variance  with  all  he  ought  to  love?  Any 
mother  has  only  to  put  herself  in  Jane's  place 
to  understand  how  this  sore  straight  between 
her  husband  and  her  child,  her  conscience  and 
her  happiness,  tore  the  poor  loving,  fearing, 
upright  heart  with  cruel  and  ever-deepening 
lacerations. 

She  could  come  to  no  conclusion,  and  she 
did  not  dare  to  delay  ;  she  must  go  down  again, 


3^0  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

and  hide,  as  well  as  she  was  able,  the  \\rong 
«nd  the  indignation  that  made  her  inner  self 
burn  and  throb  and  resent  the  bonds  of  con- 
ventional  deception  by  which  it  was  bound. 
F"or  it  is  in  such  hours  as  these  we  understand 
fully  the  duality  of  our  nature — the  outer  and 
the  inner  personality.  The  outer  and  fleshly 
Jane  was  busied  with  the  cares  of  the  hostess; 
she  was  ordering  the  supper  table;  she  was 
singing  a  song;  she  was  adding  to  the  con 
versation  a  jest  or  a  query.  The  inner  and 
nobler  Jane  was  living  over  again  that  shame 
ful  scene  in  the  cabin  ;  was  really  sick  with  the 
shambles-like  tainted  air ;  really  shivering  at 
the  sound  of  the  lash  and  the  cry;  really  burn 
ing  with  wrong  and  indignation  in  the  memory 
of  that  terrible  walk  from  the  penal  pen  to  the 
house  ;  conscious  yet  of  the  silent,  angry  man 
at  her  side;  the  awful  gloom  of  the  shadowing 
trees — the  whir  of  invisible  wings  round  her, 
and  the  demoniac  croaks  and  calls  and  whis 
perings  of  the  night  birds  and  insects;  evil 
legions  of  darkness,  hurting  and  defiling  and 
penetrating  everywhere. 

And  the  two  women  in  one  suffered  and 
smiled  through  four  long  hours.  Then  the 
ordeal  was  over,  and  in  the  secrecy  of  her 
room  Jane  dropped  the  fleshly  veil,  and  gave 
her  nobler  self  a  sufficient  audience.  In  the 
morning  the  duel  was  renewed  ;  "  for  the  cor 
ruptible  body  presseth  down  the  soul,  and  the 


A    TRIP    TO  ENGLAND.  321 

earthly  tabernacle  weigheth  down  the  mind 
that  museth  upon  many  things."*  As  she 
bathed  and  combed  out  her  long  hair,  and 
dressed  herself  with  a  conscious  desire  to  look 
handsome,  she  was  arguing  one  of  the  greatest 
questions  that  troubles  the  heart  of  woman- 
are  the  rights  of  Love  above  those  of  Truth 
and  Justice  and  Human  Kindness?  Should 
she  stand  by  Nigel  in  all  that  was  cruel  and 
cowardly,  through  all  the  injustice  of  slavery, 
counting  the  marriage  obligation  above  all 
moral  ones?  One  Jane  said  "yes";  the  other 
Jane  said  a  positive  "no,"  enforcing  the  order 
with  a  terrible  penalty  for  its  transgression — 
"  for  if  thou  sow  upon  the  furrows  of  unright 
eousness,  thou  shalt  reap  them  sevenfold." 

The  wisest  little  treatise  that  ever  man  wrote 
— Ecclesiasticus — was  at  her  side,  for  it  was 
John  Paul's  counselor,  and  he  had  given  a  copy 
of  it  to  Jane  as  a  marriage  gift,  saying,  as  he 
put  it  into  her  hand  : 

"  Ask  of  it  in  every  perplexity,  my  little 
Jane  ;  it  will  give  you  good  counsel  in  all  the 
straits  of  life.  It  is  better  than  your  father, 
for  its  wisdom  is  not  weakened  by  earthly  love, 
nor  swayed  by  worldly  interest." 

She  had  almost  superstitious  regard  for  its 
oracles  ;  she  feared  to  disobey  them  ;  and  there 
fore,  when  she  was  determined  to  take  her  own 

*  Wisdom  of  Solomon,  ix.  15. 


322  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

way,  she  did  not  inquire  of  them.  This  morn 
ing,  however,  at  the  last  moment,  when  the 
servant  had  called  her  to  breakfast,  when  she 
was  at  the  door  of  her  room,  she  turned  back 
and  opened  the  book :  "  Constantly  enditre 
and  make  not  liaste  in  the  time  of  trouble." 

The  verse  pleased  her,  it  gave  her  time  ;  she 
put  resolutely  down  all  other  thought  but  that 
of  delay;  she  was  deaf  to  the  sorrowful  and  in 
dignant  intercession  going  on  in  a  sub-con 
scious  way,  while  she  laughed  and  talked  with 
Harry,  and  kept  intact  that  marital  neutrality 
which  she  had  promised  Nigel  to  observe.  But 
Harry  during  the  night  had  reflected  on  many 
little  looks  and  words,  and  also  on  the  omission 
of  many  small  marks  of  affection  he  might 
reasonably  have  expected  to  witness  between 
his  sister  and  her  husband.  The  true  Jane 
troubled  the  eyes  that  looked  at  him,  and 
gave  unconscious  sadness  to  her  voice,  and 
little  indecisions  to  her  manners  which  were 
pathetic. 

But  the  boat  had  only  stopped  at  Memphis 
to  collect  recruits,  and  these  were  to  be  on 
board  at  the  noon  hour,  and  he  had  np  time  to 
raise  questions  that  could  not  be  settled.  If 
Jane  made  no  complaints,  and  he  saw  nothing 
unkind  in  her  treatment,  it  did  not  seem  right 
to  ask  questions  which  might  raise  doubts  yet 
latent.  After  all,  Harry  did  not  want  to  be  de 
layed  ;  he  was  sure  of  that,  and  it  was  so  strong 


A    TRIP    TO  ENGLAND.  323 

a  certainty  that  it  permitted  no  uncertainty  a 
hearing. 

So  during  his  stay  the  decencies  of  domestic 
life  had  a  full  observance.  Nigel  went  to  the 
boat  to  see  the  gay,  gallant  troop  of  young 
paladins  sail  southward,  amid  the  shouts  and 
cheers  of  the  thousands  lining  the  high  bluffs. 
They  were  later  than  had  been  expected,  and 
Nigel  did  not  then  return  home.  He  called  on 
the  Pagets  first,  and  had  a  cup  of  coffee,  and 
heard  a  new,  marvelous  story  of  abolition 
doings  on  a  neighboring  plantation,  and  read 
aloud  a  copy  of  the  "  Liberator  "  that  had  been 
found  in  a  room  of  the  hotel  ;  and  so  lingered 
away  the  hours,  that  it  was  nearly  dusk  when 
he  reached  home. 

Jane  heard  him  coming.  She  had  determined 
to  meet  him  pleasantly  and  ignore  the  trouble 
entirely  which  she  had  agreed  to  ignore  tem 
porarily.  When  he  opened  the  door,  she  turned 
her  head  with  a  smile  to  greet  him.  "  I  am 
so  glad  to  see  you,  Nigel.  Has  Harry  gone  ? 
How  many  recruits  did  they  get  in  Memphis  ?  " 

He  treated  her  as  if  she  was  not  there — as  if 
she  did  not  exist.  He  was  deaf  to  her  words. 
He  looked  at  her  where  she  stood,  all  eager 
and  smiling,  as  if  he  looked  into  empty  space. 
Then  she  humbled  herself  and  said  :  "  I  am 
sorry  I  grieved  you,  Nigel." 

He  took  the  "  Liberator  "  from  his  pocket, 
and  began  to  read,  and  then  tear,  as  he  read, 


324  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

every  paragraph  into  shreds,  and  slowly  burn 
them. 

"  Nigel !     Will  you  not  speak  to  me  ?  " 

He  was  as  one  quite  alone.  Except  as  an 
object  to  torture,  his  wife  did  not  exist  for  him. 

"  I  have  served  your  purpose,  I  see,  Nigel. 
Harry  has  gone — I  have  no  one  to  appeal  to  ; 
and  you  are  so  used  to  cruelty  and  deception 
that  you  have  no  honor,  and  no  shame  in 
dishonor  left.  This  is  Southern  chivalry,  in 
deed  ! " 

He  began  to  sing — some  silly,  love-sick  pas 
sages  that  Miss  Imogene  generally  warbled  for 
his  delectation — a  song  that  he  knew  Jane  par 
ticularly  hated,  because  she  had  watched  its 
translation  by  the  two  who  affected  it.  She 
left  the  room  then,  and  went  to  the  nursery. 
But  she  had  no  heart  even  for  her  baby.  She 
sat  down  by  the  closed  window,  and  looked 
with  a  stern,  melancholy  face  into  the  melan 
choly  garden. 

A  woodpecker  was  calling  rain  with  an  im 
patient  Plieu  !  Plieu  !  He  was  sitting  on  a 
tree  close  by  the  window;  he  seemed  almost 
to  be  speaking  to  her.  The  Roman  augurs 
thought  the  call  one  of  disaster  ;  Jane,  without 
knowing  this,  grew  angry  at  the  bird's  persist 
ent  cry.  She  did  not  know  that  woodpeckers 
work  frequently  into  the  night  ;  that  the  sav 
age,  indefatigable  pickax  of  a  bill  was  interro- 

o      '  *r>  i 

gating  the  tree  for  voids  ;   she  thought  there 


A    TRIP    TO  ENGLAND.  325 

was  something  sinister  in  the  bird  ;  and  she 
rose  with  such  an  impatient  movement  of  her 
chair  th"at  it  awakened  little  Paul,  and  he 
began  to  cry  loudly. 

Nigel  came  into  the  room  scolding  at  the 
uproar.  "  There  is  no  peace  in  this  house,"  he 
cried.  He  took  the  child  from  Palma's  arms, 
and,  as  it  would  not  cease  at  his  order,  he 
struck  it.  Then  the  mother  interfered.  There 
was  a  cruel  scene,  which  left  Jane  flaming  with 
anger,  and  little  Paul  sobbing  with  terror  and 
pain.  Thus  the  thin  veil  of  domestic  respect 
was  rent  from  the  face  of  domestic  wrong  antf 
quarreling.  After  this  exhibition  of  temper,, 
Nigel  cared  no  more  to  hide  his  disapproval  ofc 
his  wife  or  his  disagreements  with  her.  He 
seemed  rather  to  take  a  pleasure  in  mortifying 
her  before  her  slaves.  And  they  covertly  hon 
ored  and  pitied  her;  they  knew  she  was  suffer 
ing  for  their  sake. 

A  loving  woman  feels  less  the  death  of  her 
husband  than  the  slow  decay  of  his  affection, 
with  its  tantalizing  quickenings  and  returns, 
and  its  hopeless  chills  and  relapses.  During 
the  next  three  months  Jane  suffered  continu 
ally  from  wrongs  whose  pettiness  increased  her 
suffering.  She  was  attacked  through  her  sec 
tional  prejudices.  Beauty,  manners,  opinions, 
in  exact  opposition  to  her  own,  were  publicly 
as  well  as  privately  admired.  She  was  accused 
of  morbid  ill-temper,  of  passionate  outbreaks ; 


326  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

she  was  said  to  be  an  Abolitionist,  to  have  con- 
sequently  given  up  going  to  church,  and  to  be 
perfectly  irreligious. 

Day  after  day,  week  after  week,  the  trial 
went  on  ;  grew  more  bitter  and  more  hopeless. 
Nigel  stayed  longer  and  longer  from  his  home, 
and  the  intervals  between  their  disputes  grew 
shorter  and  shorter,  their  reconciliations  less  and 
less  affectionate.  But  the  discipline  strength 
ened  and  deepened  Jane's  character,  and  the 
piety  that  had  been  a  holy  form,  lived  and 
breathed  in  all  her  thoughts  and  feelings.  She 
had  received  a  Word  in  her  heart,  "  Strive  for 
the  truth  unto  Death  "  ;  and  she  was  ready  to 
trust  Him  who  is  "  a  God  of  the  afflicted  ;  an 
helper  of  the  oppressed  ;  an  upholder  of  the 
weak  ;  a  protector  of  the  forlorn  ;  a  savior  of 
them  that  are  without  hope."  * 

Still  she  could  do  nothing  to  hurry  events. 
She  felt  that  ere  she  took  another  decided  step 
she  must  be  sure  that  it  was  on  the  right  road. 
She  did  not  always  hold  herself  blameless 
about  the  saving  of  Palma's  brothers.  True, 
there  was  absolutely  no  other  way  to  rescue 
the  boys.  She  was  sure  that  any  appeal  to 
Nigel  would  have  been  worse  than  useless ; 
and  yet  perhaps  she  ought  to  have  made  that 
appeal.  The  thought  that  she  had  been  in  a 
measure  a  traitor  to  her  husband  made  her 

*  Judith,  ix.  II. 


A    TRIP    TO  ENGLAND.  32? 

patient  many  times  when  she  would  otherwise 
have  been  beyond  speaking  to. 

At  the  time  she  thought  she  did  a  good  deal ; 
she  had  a  doubt  about  it  sometimes  when  it 
was  too  late  to  undo  it.  Surely  it  was  a  hard 
strait  for  any  wife.  Who  would  dare  to  put 
themselves  in  Jane's  place,  and  say,  "  I  would 
have  stood  by  my  husband  and  let  the  boys 
have  gone  into  slavery.  I  would  have  remem 
bered  his  happiness,  and  put  from  me  all  care 
of  their  physical  suffering  and  moral  degrada 
tion.  I  would  have  kept  my  home  happy, 
though  they  had  died  in  pestilential  bayous,  or 
burnt  up  with  fevers,  or  perished  under  the 
lash,  or  fretted  their  life  out  in  the  shame  and 
horror  and  wrong  of  their  position  ?  " 

But  sorrowful  as  the  weeks  following  Harry's 
visit  were,  Jane  grew  in  them  to  a  nobler 
stature  than  joy  would  ever  have  granted  her. 
For  happiness  diffuses  and  dissipates  our  finer 
qualities,  our  most  subtle  excellencies  ;  but  sor 
row  brings  us  all  back  to  our  central  being, 
limits  the  overflowing  of  life,  and  makes  what 
remains  stronger,  finer,  richer.  Jane  was  now 
approaching  the  hour  which  was  to  test  the 
work  of  sorrow,  and  she  was  ready  to  meet  it. 


CHAPTER     XVII. 
FIRE! 

"  Threatening  comets,  when  by  night  they  rise, 
Shoot  sanguine  streams,  and  sadden  all  the  skies." 

—Dryden, 

"  If  in  some  town  a  fire  breaks  out  by  chance, 
The  impetuous  flames  with  lawless  power  advance  ; 
On  ruddy  wings  the  bright  destruction  flies, 
Followed  with  ruin  and  amazing  cries. 
The  flaky  plague  spreads  swiftly  with  the  wind, 
And  ghastly  desolation  howls  behind." 

— Blackmore. 

"  And  all  that  is  befallen  is  done  unto  us  for  our  wicked 
works  and  great  sins." — 1  Esdras,  viii.  86. 

DURING  these  sad  weeks  in  the  which  Jane 
was  growing  through  suffering  to  strength. 
Virginia  was  resting  her  heart  in  the  full  measure 
of  contented  and  hopeful  love.  The  bright 
October  days  brought  with  them  many  outside 
interests  for  the  Major.  The  county  was  al 
ready  agitating  the  question  of  the  next  Presi 
dent,  and  an  Abolition  Convention,  appointed 
to  meet  at  Utica,  was  regarded  with  extreme 
uneasiness  and  disapprobation.  Gambling  in 
stocks  was  becoming  an  almost  legitimate  busi 
ness  ;  and  sudden  reverses  of  fortune  and  dis 
honorable  appropriations  of  money  followed 
each  other  so  quickly  that  the  event  of  Monday 
328 


FIRE  r  329 

was  forgotten  in  the  event  of  Tuesday.  Men 
had  caught  the  fever  of  money-making  ;  they 
were  hastening  to  be  rich,  and  ceasing  to  be 
innocent  and  honorable  in  the  unholy  struggle. 

But  these  things  touched  Virginia  only  on 
the  outside.  She  sat  through  the  charming- 
weather  nearly  all  day  long  with  some  sewing 
in  her  hand,  her  heart  full  of  happy  dreams, 
her  loving  thoughts  flying  over  the  sea  with 
Marius.  Sometimes  the  Major  had  a  little 
spasm  of  jealousy  at  her  intentness  of  personal 
meditation,  at  her  privacy  of  happiness.  He 
had  grown  accustomed  to  come  to  her  for 
sympathy  in  all  matters  that  touched  his  own 
likings  or  dislikings  ;  and  he  fancied  that  he 
missed  somewhat  of  her  usual  ready  response. 
And  he  did  miss  it ;  for  it  is  certain  that  four 
eyes  see  better  than  two  eyes,  earth  at  its 
fairest  and  broadest,  and  heaven  at  its  nearest; 
so  that  if  Virginia  would  not  see  with  him,  he 
lost  the  illumination  of  her  view  ;  the  pleasant 
womanly  side-lights  that  stimulated  his  own 
clearer  vision. 

He  reflected  with  a  sigh  that  she  seemed  to 
care  very  little  about  the  Utica  meeting,  and 
he  wondered  vaguely  how  it  was  she  should 
have  been  so  extremely  enthusiastic  concern 
ing  the  Forfar  boys,  and  then  declare  she  was 
glad  when  the  people  of  Utica  stopped  Lewis 
Tappan  in  the  middle  of  his  red-hot  speech, 
broke  up  the  Convention,  and  compelled  its 


33°  SHE   LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

members  to  leave  the  city.  "  They  ought  to 
mind  their  own  business,"  she  said  fretfully. 
"  I  am  sure  we  have  all  plenty  to  do,  without 
lifting  burdens  not  meant  for  us." 

The  Presidential  election  was  no  more  in. 
teresting  to  her.  The  Major  wanted  to  talk 
about  the  chances  of  Mr.  Webster  and  General 
Harrison,  and  she  listened  without  interest. 
"  Mr.  Webster  is  such  a  grand-looking  man, 
I  think  he  ought  to  be  president,"  she  said; 
and  then,  perceiving  that  her  father  waited  for 
some  further  expression  of  her  views,  she  asked, 
with  an  affected  concern  : 

"  Who  is  General  Harrison  ?  Have  I  ever 
seen  him  ?  I  do  not  think  I  have  ever  heard 
of  him." 

"  He  was  commanding  general  in  the  battle 
of  the  Thames." 

"  Oh,  yes !  that  Indian  battle  in  which  poor 
brave  Tecumseh  was  killed  ;  that  is  more 
than  twenty  years  ago." 

"  It  is  never  too  late  to  honor  the  brave, 
Virginia." 

"  No.  Poor  Tecumseh  !  I  heard  Mr.  Ketel- 
tas  say  that  Harrison  did  not  kill  the  Indian 
chief ;  he  said  it  was  a  man  called  Johnson." 

"  I  believe  it  is  doubtful." 

"  But,  then,  it  is  not  an  honor  that  any  one 
need  covet.  Brave  men  are  gentle  men,  and  I 
should  say  there  was  very  little  credit  in  kill 
ing  that  unfortunate  Indian  chief." 


FIRE  r  331 

"  I  do  not  think  you  take  much  interest  in 
anything  now,  Virginia." 

"  But  I  do,  father,  just  as  much  as  ever. 
Who  will  you  vote  for  ?  General  Harrison  ?  " 

"  If  you  would  only  give  me  a  moment's 
thought,  Virginia,  you  would  know  that  I 
should  not  vote  for  General  Harrison." 

Then  Virginia  blushed  and  put  down  her 
work,  and  tried  by  an  excessive  attention  to 
atone  for  her  want  of  interest  in  Mr.  Webster 
and  General  Harrison. 

Something  of  the  same  kind  occurred  nearly 
every  day.  Virginia  had,  in  fact,  an  absorbing 
affection  for  Marius,  and  if  she  was  not  con 
stantly  striving  against  its  dominating  power, 
all  other  interests  were  lost  in  it. 

One  memorable  night  in  December  they  were 
sitting  together.  The  weather  was  intensely, 
cruelly  cold,  and  Virginia  was  glad  to  be  as 
close  to  the  fire  as  possible.  Marius  had  just 
left  New  York.  If  all  was  well  he  would  be 
back  in  February  ;  then  the  arrangements  for 
their  marriage  were  to  be  decided  upon.  All 
would  be  ready  for  April  or  May,  and  Virginia 
felt  sure  winds  and  waves  would  go  with  love, 
and  bring  the  "  Arethusa  "  to  anchor  in  April. 

She  was  thinking  of  all  the  pretty  garments 
she  had  made;  thinking  of  the  girls  she  would 
ask  to  be  her  bridemaids  ;  thinking  of  the 
sweet  details  which  would  make  the  ceremony 
what  she  was  determined  it  should  be — a 


332  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

ering  of  all  that  was  lovely  and  honorable  ;  that 
so  she  might  signify  to  every  one  her  pride  in 
her  chosen  husband,  her  sense  of  his  perfect 
equality,  and  her  intention  to  exact  all  suitable 
respect  for  him. 

The  Major  was  reading  a  newspaper.  He 
had  been  grumbling  all  week  at  Governor  Mc- 
Duffie's  message  to  the  South  Carolina  Legis 
lature  ;  for  in  it  he  had  not  only  glorified 
slavery — that  the  Major  would  have  smiled  at 
— but  he  had  asserted  that  "  slavery  was  the 
corner-stone  of  our  republican  edifice."  The 
whole  North  had  protested  against  such  a 
claim  ;  the  papers  were  full  of  the  most  indig 
nant  denials.  Suddenly  he  shook  his  "  Courier" 
with  a  triumphant  little  flutter.  "  Listen  to 
this,  Virginia,  and  then  try  and  fit  it  to  worthy 
music.  I  shall  enjoy  hearing  Marius  roll  it  out, 
as  if  he  meant  every  one  to  hear  it  from  stern 
to  bow." 

"  What  is  it,  father?  Some  song  for  '  Jack 
son,  ho  '  ?  " 

"  No,  Miss,  it  is  not.  It  is  an  answer  to 
McDuffie's  shameful  statement  that  slavery  is 
the  soul  of  our  Republic  : 

"  '  Its  life  !  its  soul !  from  slavery  drawn  ? 

Foul,  false,  profane  !     Go  teach  as  well 
That  holy  Truth's  from  falsehood  born. 
Or  heaven  refreshed  by  airs  from  hell. 

"  '  Rail  on  !  brethren  of  the  South  ! 

You  shall  not  hear  a  truth  the  les$. 


FIRE !  333 

No  seal  is  on  the  Yankee's  mouth, 
No  fetter  on  the  Yankee  press. 
From  our  Green  Mountains  to  the  sea, 
One  voice  shall  thunder — We  are  free  ! '  " 

"  It  is  very  good,  father,  and  I  suppose  it 
speaks  for  the  general  public.  I  know  it  speaks 
for  Marius,  and  I  am  sure  he  will  sing  it  well." 

Then  there  was  another  silence,  and  when  the 
Major  spoke  again  it  was  on  a  very  different 
subject.  "Virginia,  do  you  remember  how 
Halley's  comet  looked?" 

"  I  did  not  look  at  it,  father.  I  have  the 
greatest  objection  to  a  comet.  I  would  not 
let  my  eyes  catch  its  malevolent  influence  ;  so 
I  cannot  tell  you  how  this  year's  visitor  ap 
peared  to  me.  Why  do  you  ask?" 

"Only,  some  one  is  describing  it  here  as 
'  splendoring  the  night  from  horizon  to  horizon  ; 
marching  in  glory  through  the  constellations,' 
etc.,  etc.,  while  in  reality — unless  my  eyes  were 
wrong — it  was  wan  and  dim,  and  had  a  melan 
choly  radiance,  that  produced  an  indescribable 
sadness.  I  saw  it  in  Edinburgh  through  a 
large  telescope ;  and  that  fine  man,  Professor 
Wilson,  and  a  rough,  jocular,  poetical  genius 
called  Hogg,  were  with  me.  It  impressed  both 
of  them  also  in  the  same  manner;  it  was  really 
a  bluish,  vague,  leaden  light,  unlike  the  light 
of  either  sun,  moon,  or  star." 

"  I  hold,  with  Milton,  that  comets  shake 
plagues  and  sorrows  from  their 'horrid  hair! ' 


334  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

— What  is  that  noise  ?  A  bell  ?  The  bell  of 
the  old  Dutch  Church  !  But  it  is  like  a  bell 
gone  mad." 

There  was  a  moment's  silence,  followed  by  a 
clash  of  bells  and  an  indescribable  sense  of 
tumult  in  the  air  above,  and  then  by  a  gath 
ering  tumult  in  the  city  below  them.  Men 
began  to  run  pell-mell  down  the  snow-bound 
street,  shrieking  "Fire!"  as  they  went.  The 
noise  of  the  engines  flying  to  the  scene  of 
disaster,  followed  by  excited  citizens,  was 
heard  with  terrible  meaning  in  the  clear, 
frosty  atmosphere.  The  Major  looked  at  his 
watch.  "  It  is  only  eight  o'clock,  Virginia.  I 
wonder  if 

"  Father,  if  it  was  only  noon,  you  ought  not 
to  go  out.  It  is  really  tempestuous  weather, 
and  the  thermometer  is  far  below  zero.  You 
can  be  of  no  use." 

The  Major  knew  his  inability  well,  but  he 
felt  it  hard  to  submit  to  reason.  For  with 
every  moment  the  excitement  increased.  Very 
soon  the  whole  city  was  lit  by  the  spreading 
flames.  The  shouts  of  the  firemen  ;  the  shriek 
ing  of  women  and  children  ;  the  hoarse  calls 
of  thousands  fighting  the  flames,  shouting  for 
water,  shouting  for  help  ;  the  rushing  of  horses 
and  wagons;  the  clamor  of  a  hundred  church 
bells;  the  ever-nearing,  ever-spreading  fire, 
lighting  in  lurid  colors  the  streets,  the  river,  the 
raving  citizens,  and  the  moored  silent  shipping 


FIRE !  335 

— made  a  terrible  and  not  to  be  resisted  excite 
ment. 

Virginia  wandered  from  window  to  window. 
The  Major,  having  put  his  gold  and  papers  into 
a  portable  shape,  shared  her  agonizing  restless 
ness.  John  Thomas,  who  happened  to  be  in 
the  kitchen  with  Nelly,  was  sent  out  for  news, 
and  came  back  nearly  speechless  with  horror. 
The  lower  part  of  the  city  was  a  sea  of  fire,  and 
men  had  gone  all  but  mad  with  fright.  No  one 
thought  of  sleep.  The  hours  passed  in  incon 
ceivable  anxiety,  and  about  midnight  there 
were  constant  and  awful  explosions.  "  They 
are  blowing  up  buildings !  "  said  the  Major, 
drawing  his  lips  tight,  and  quite  unconscious 
that  tears  were  rolling  down  his  face.  Soon 
afterward  Mr.  Keteltas  came.  "  Let  me  in, 
friends,"  he  said,  "and  get  me  a  cup  of  coffee, 
Virginia.  I  was  forced  to  come  to  you,  I  could 
bear  it  no  longer  alone." 

The  Major  clasped  his  hand  and  Virginia  had 
the  fires  replenished,  and  helped  Nelly  to  make 
strong  coffee  for  all  to  drink.  "  New  York  is 
a  bankrupt  city  to-night,  Major.  She  is  put 
back  twenty-five  years  by  this  calamity." 

"  I  think  not,  Mr.  Keteltas." 

"  And  Boston  and  Philadelphia  will  get 
ahead  of  us,  Major." 

"  Not  they." 

"  Now  let  President  Jackson  out  with  the 
surplus  millions.  If  he  is  a  man  at  all,  he  will 


336  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

send  the  money  at  once  to  rebuild  our  dear, 
beautiful  city.  We  paid  it  to  the  govern- 
ment — most  of  it  ;  let  us  have  it  back ;  we  are 
ruined,  bankrupt !  Oh,  New  York!  New  York! 
I  would  have  given  every  house  I  have  to  the 
flames,  to  have  saved  the  rest.  I  would  indeed  ! 
I  am  an  old  man — I  would  have  given  my  own 
life." 

"  Come,  come,  Mr.  Keteltas  ;  you  will  live  to 
see  New  York  rise  up  fairer  and  fresher  than 
ever  from  her  lustration  by  fire.  A  year  will 
put  all  better  than  it  was." 

"  How  can  it  be  better?  All  the  beautiful 
streets,  the  grand  warehouses,  the  noble  public 
buildings  and  churches  !  Oh,  what  a  calamity  ! 
What  a  ruinous  calamity !  We  will  have  a 
right  searching  into  it.  I  would  not  wonder  if 
politics  are  at  the  bottom  of  it — or  the  Aboli 
tionists.  Why  did  they  not  let  them  have 
their  shriek  out  at  Utica?  Do  you  know  that 
every  insurance  office  in  New  York  refused  to 
insure  Arthur  Tappan  ?  He  had  to  go  to  Boston 
for  insurance.  I  do  not  approve  of  such 
bigotry.  It  is  not  like  New  York.  It  brings 
ruin.  Oh,  the  dreadful  cold,  and  the  ice  on  the 
river  so  hard  they  could  drive  a  wagon  on  it 
yesterday !  How  will  the  firemen  get  water  ? 
Listen  !  They  are  using  gunpowder  again  ! 
God  help  us  !  God  help  us  !  " 

At  length  the  late,  gray  dawn  broke  over  the 
burnt  city.  Keteltas  could  no  longer  be  re- 


FIRE  I  337 

strained.  He  was  determined  to  go  down  the 
street  and  find  out  what  damage  had  been  done. 
The  Major  went  with  him.  They  returned  very 
shortly.  There  was  a  chain  of  marines  from  the 
Navy  Yard  around  the  burnt  precinct.  No 
one  was  calm  enough  to  tell  a  sensible  story. 
But  they  saw  the  firemen  dragging  their  en 
gines  home,  many  of  them  dead  asleep  with 
exhaustion,  others  pulling  unconsciously,  and 
ready  to  drop  on  the  street. 

Mr.  Keteltas  had  his  breakfast  with  the 
Masons,  and  then  pushed  his  way  down  town. 
He  had  much  property  in  the  burnt  district, 
and  he  was  not  so  hopeless  of  it  as  he  had  been 
while  the  fire  was  raging.  "  There  is  nothing 
for  ill-luck  but  mending  it,"  he  said  ;  "  we  must 
even  go  to  building  again."  He  promised  to 
return  for  dinner,  and  he  was  most  eagerly 
looked  for. 

"  It  is  worse  than  our  worst  fears,  Major," 
he  said,  as  he  tucked  a  napkin  into  his  vest 
and  looked  approvingly  at  his  soup.  "  As  I 
said,  the  river  was  frozen  ;  the  ice  was  to  cut 
before  any  water  could  be  got.  Finally  some 
of  the  engines  were  lowered  to  the  ice  and 
worked  there.  Will  you  imagine  that  ?  In 
Hanover  Square  there  was  a  mountain,  sixty 
feet  wide  and  thirty  feet  high,  of  silks,  satins, 
laces,  cashmere  shawls,  and  rich  India  goods. 
They  were  thought  at  midnight  to  be  quite  safe 
there ;  an  hour  afterward  thrv  were  in  ashes— 


338  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

with  such  amazing  swiftness  spread  the  fire 
Half  the  First  Ward  is  burnt  up.  Seven  hun- 
dred  stores  are  gone.  Forty  millions  of  goods, 
at  a  rough  estimation." 

"  Where  did  the  fire  begin  ?  " 

"  In  Merchant  Street — a  bad  place,  narrow 
and  crooked,  filled  with  high  stores  and  dry 
goods  ;  then  to  Pearl  Street,  on  to  Coenties 
Slip,  Wall  Street  down  to  the  river,  including 
all  South  Street,  Water  Street,  Exchange 
Street,  Post's  stores,  Lord's  Row,  William, 
Beaver,  and  Stone  Streets — all  gone !  The 
Merchants'  Exchange  is  a  heap  of  ruins.  Mr. 
Schermerhorn  told  me  the  firemen  became  ex 
hausted,  the  citizens  despairing  and  apathetic, 
the  lower  orders  were  mad  with  drink,  and 
total  destruction  seemed  inevitable,  when  Cap 
tain  Nix  with  a  body  of  marines  from  the  Navy 
Yard  appeared." 

Virginia's  face  lightened  at  the  mention  of 
the  marines,  and  she  asked,  "  How  did  these 
men,  accustomed  to  the  sea,  fight  fire  ?" 

"They  did  it  as  only  men  accustomed  to 
danger  and  well  disciplined  could  do  it.  Mr. 
Schermerhorn  said  their  very  appearance  in 
spired  confidence  and  hope,  and  set  good  men 
to  work  once  more.  Each  marine  carried  in 
his  hands  a  small  barrel  of  gunpowder,  and 
they  followed  their  officers  through  the  shower 
of  fire  and  sparks  as  calm  and  orderly  as  if  they 
were  going  to  drill.  Captain  Nix  walked  in 


FIRE !  339 

front  of  them  and  pointed  out  the  houses 
necessary  to  be  blown  up  ;  and  the  men,  led  by 
the  lieutenants,  did  the  work  with  the  greatest 
coolness  and  rapidity." 

"  The  dear,  brave  fellows !  " 

"  Yes,  my  dear,  they  were  brave.  It  takes 
brave  men  to  carry  gunpowder  through  a 
shower  of  burning  debris ;  and  I  take  leave  to 
say  few  would  have  dared  it.  Captain  Nix 
deserves  great  praise." 

"  Every  man  with  him  deserves  equal 
praise,"  said  the  Major.  "  It  was  a  noble 
deed." 

"  The  sea  breeds  heroes,  father.  Men  who 
live  with  danger  and  neighbor  to  death  must 
have  stout  hearts." 

"They  blew  up  one  of  my  own  buildings, 
Major — worth  thirty  thousand  dollars.  It  gave 
me  a  pang  at  my  heart  to  see  its  skeleton 
standing  black  and  bare.  But  I  complain  not. 
There  are  twenty  thousand  people  out  of  work ; 
crowds  of  both  sexes  are  wandering  in  the 
streets  ;  the  cold  is  terrible,  and  they  do  not 
seem  to  notice  it.  Many  look  demented." 

"  How  did  you  get  around  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  know.  I  went  into  places  and 
over  places  I  would  not  put  foot  into  if  I  was 
in  my  sober  senses.  I  did  not  feel  myself  at 
all— that  is  the  truth." 

"  It  must  be  an  awful  scene,  Mr.  Keteltas !  " 

"  It   is,    Major.     The   streets  are  full  of  hot 


34°  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

bricks  and  of  burning  goods.  Boxes,  bales, 
desks,  safes,  papers,  furniture  are  scattered  ev 
erywhere.  United  States  soldiers  are  keeping 
what  guard  they  can  ;  but  men,  women,  and 
boys  are  stealing  on  all  hands.  The  heat  is  infer 
nal  ;  the  cold  is  infernal.  I  saw  crowds  warming 
themselves  by  fires  made  from  India  silks  and 
Irish  linens.  I  saw  a  great  mound  of  Hyson 
tea  burning.  I  saw  hogsheads  of  sugar  strewed 
about,  and  people  carrying  it  off  in  baskets. 
The  sidewalks  on  the  Bowling  Green  hold  a 
million  dollars  worth  of  fine  goods — the  owners 
and  their  clerks  are  keeping  guard  over  them, 
and  half  frozen  at  their  posts.  Whitehall  Slip 
is  piled  with  silks,  sarsnets,  and  brocades.  Some 
of  the  richest  families  in  New  York  have  lost 
all  they  had ;  and  I  heard  a  class  of  foreign 
scoundrels  openly  rejoicing  over  it.  They  were 
prowling  about  the  ruins,  drunk  with  the  liquor 
they  had  stolen  from  the  wharves,  and  telling 
each  other :  '  This  will  make  the  aristocracy 
haul  in  their  horns  !  they  will  make  no  more 
five  per  cent,  dividends  ' — miserable,  ungrateful 
wretches  !  Did  you  hear  the  bell  of  the  old 
Dutch  Church  ring  when  the  fire  broke  out?" 

"  Indeed  we  did,  Mr.  Keteltas,"  said  Virginia. 
"  It  was  the  most  frantic  cry  that  ever  came 
from  a  bell's  mouth.  Surely  no  mortal  hand 
rang  that  bell  ;  for  cities  have  their  guardian 
angels,  as  well  as  men  and  women." 

"  Something  like  that   everybody  is  saying 


FIRE!  341 

The  sexton  declares  when  he  went  to  the  door 
the  bell  was  swinging  like  mad,  and  the  door 
locked  and  no  one  in  the  church.  Dr.  Mat 
thews  also  told  me  a  very  singular  thing.  He 
went  to  his  fine  church  in  Garden  Street  ;  the 
fire  was  all  around  it,  and  some  one  began  to 
play  a  dirge  upon  the  organ — the  grandest  mu 
sic  ever  mortal  ears  heard.  It  began  as  the 
fire  struck  the  church,  and  lasted  until  the  lofty 
ceiling  was  all  in  a  blaze.  He  says  hundreds 
heard  the  music.  I  know  not  what  to  think, 
nor  how  to  believe  such  things. ' 

"  In  hours  of  such  supreme  feeling,  may  we 
71  ot  drop  something  of  the  flesh,  may  not  spirit 
ual  senses,  which  we  certainly  possess,  assert 
themselves  ?  You  admit  that  you  walked  to 
day  where  in  your  ordinary  state  you  would 
not  dare  to  put  a  foot.  When  the  spiritual 
hearing  is  opened,  then  spiritual  sounds  can  be 
discerned.  Also,  angels  bent  on  succor  may 
need  the  help  of  numbers,  or  of  inherent  power ; 
even  as  mortals  do,  and  the  cry  of  the  bell  may 
have  reached  further  than  we  can  guess  of." 

"  Of  such  questions  I  know  nothing,  Major  ;' 
no,  nor  does  any  other  man — but  what  think 
you?  Arthur  Tappan  escaped  the  general 
ruin.  After  the  sacking  of  his  house  last  year 
he  built  his  store  of  stone,  and  covered  every 
window  with  boiler  iron.  It  stood  the  fire  for 
more  than  an  hour  while  everything  was  blaz 
ing  around  it;  and  all  his  books,  papers,  and 


34 2  SHE   LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

one  hundred  thousand  dollars'  worth  of  rich 
goods  were  removed  by  the  blacks,  who  went 
in  a  body  to  his  help,  and  showed  a  pluck  and 
daring  that  was  tremendous." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  it  !  A  work  of  gratitude 
like  that  makes  my  heart  thrill.  I  call  such 
men  brothers,  whether  they  be  black  or  white." 

"  The  Chamber  of  Commerce  has  lost  its 
Charter — the  immense  document,  covered  with 
seals  and  ribbons,  given  to  it  by  King  George 
the  Third.  Really,  I  am  getting  warm  again. 
The  cold  is  frightful  ;  men  are  going  about 
with  icicles  hanging  from  their  beards  and 
clothing,  and  their  hair  is  stiff  with  frozen  vapor. 
Such  a  scene  of  desolation  !  Such  suffering! 
Such  ruin  !  Many  a  man's  life-labor  gone  in 
an  hour;  thousands  without  shelter  or  daily 
bread  !  I  must  go  home  and  rest  now.  To 
morrow  there  will  be  work  enough  for  all  true 
hearts  and  strong  hands." 

"  Stay  here,  Mr.  Keteltas." 

"  No,  thank  you,  Major.  I  have  to  look  over 
my  papers.  I  want  to  certify  myself  what  I 
'have  really  lost,  and  I  want  to  write  to  Jane 
and  Harry." 

The  letter  to  his  daughter  John  Paul  wrote 
before  he  slept.  It  was  the  expression,  not 
only  of  his  own  great  losses,  but  the  forcible 
picture  of  the  awful  ruin  and  suffering  of  his 
dear  native  city.  He  told  it  all  to  Jane  ;  he 
told  her  how  lonely  he  was  ;  how  he  longed  to 


FIRE  t  343 

see  her  ;  how  he  loved  his  little  grandson.  He 
begged  her  to  try  and  visit  him  soon  ;  he  laid 
upon  the  white  sheet  the  outward  symbols  of 
his  affectionate,  solitary  spirit. 

This  message  of  love  and  sorrow  did  not 
reach  Memphis  until  after  the  New  Year. 
Jane  had  just  received  a  glowing  letter  from 
her  brother  Harry,  describing  that  miraculous 
assault  of  Milan  against  the  old  Spanish 
Alamo. 

"We  are  in  possession  of  San  Antonio! 
Hurrah  !  Two  hundred  Americans  have  taken 
the  city !  Hurrah !  I  wish  you  could  have 
seen  Milan  leading  us.  I  wish  you  could  have 
seen  those  Texans  picking  off  the  men  with 
their  rifles,  and  never  missing  one  shot  in  a 
thousand.  It  was  glorious,  Jane  !  This  is  life, 
Jane  !  Freedom  !  Freedom  !  Freedom  !  Ring 
the  bells  merrily  with  us,  Jane  : 

"  '  Tol  de  rol,  tol  de  rol,  tol  de  rol ! 
The  Texans  have  taken  the  Alamo  ! 

Alamo  !  Alamo  !  Alamo  ! 
The  Texans  have  taken  the  Alamo  ! 
Tol  de  rol,  tol  de  rol,  tol  de  rol !  ' ' 

For  a  couple  of  pages  Harry  thus  expressed 
his  enthusiasm  in  the  fight:  his  delight  in  the 
exquisite  land  ;  his  wonder  at  its  fertility;  his 
infatuation  with  the  beautiful  black-eyed  sefio- 
ritas ;  his  contempt  for  the  effeminate,  dazzlingly 
dressed  seflors.  It  was  a  letter  of  exclamations 
and  adjectives  and  inexpressible  delights. 


344  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

Nigel  was  charmed  with  it.  He  began  to 
feel  the  latent  passion  in  his  own  blood.  He 
was  holding  his  head  an  inch  higher  as  he  rode 
into  Memphis  with  the  blazing  little  sheet  in 
his  pocket.  He  read  it  there  to  constantly 
gathering  groups  in  Tobin's  store.  He  sent 
many  a  man  away  to  buy  a  new  rifle  and  take 
a  ticket  for  the  Texas  coast.  The  instinct 
of  liberty — which,  to  the  Anglo-Saxon  and 
Anglo-American,  means  dominance — put  un 
der  it  all  smaller  passions.  For  a  few  hours 
he  despised  the  trifling  wrongs  he  had  been 
nursing — the  petty  thefts  of  his  slaves,  the 
provoking,  independent  ways  of  his  wife,  the 
innuendoes  of  his  neighbors — they  all  crept 
into  the  dark  corners  of  his  heart,  and  he 
could  only  see  that  handful  of  Americans 
marching  to  liberty  and  conquest,  defying 
armies  with  their  never-fail  rifles  and  their 
never-doubt  courage.  He  was  thinking  Of 
that  gay  paladin  Milan  and  of  the  knightly 
Sam  Houston,  and  for  a  few  hours  he  forgot 
that  his  corn-crib  had  been  robbed,  that  his 
cotton  had  been  undersold,  and  that  young 
Desart  was  taking  his  sentimental  place  in  the 
life  of  Imogene  Paget. 

Toward  night  he  mounted  his  horse  to 
return  home.  He  had  had  a  happy,  trium 
phant  day.  He  felt  pleased  with  Jane  for 
being  the  occasion  of  his  possessing  a  brother- 
in-law  so  daring  and  so  admirable.  As  he 


FIRE!  345 

rode  up  Main  Street,  he  stopped  at  the  post- 
office  for  letters,  and  received  that  of  John 
Paul's  describing  the  fire.  It  was  of  course  a 
heavy  letter,  and  it  awakened  suspicion  at 
once.  What  possible  cause  could  there  be  for 
such  a  volume  of  correspondence  ?  What  was 
it  about?  Being  so  intensely  selfish  and  self- 
conceited,  he  could  think  of  no  other  subject 
interesting  enough  to  require  such  expansion 
but  Nigel  Forfar.  What  had  Jane  been  say 
ing  about  him  ?  When  he  reached  the  out 
skirts  of  the  city  it  was  still  light  ;  he  hesi 
tated  a  moment,  then  he  broke  the  large  red 
seal  and  read  the  letter. 

He  could  not  restrain  his  wicked  joy  in  the 
news  it  brought.  "  Good  enough  for  the  Abo 
litionists  !"  he  said,  with  satisfaction,  and  he 
reined  in  his  horse  and  stopped  at  Mrs.  Paget's 
door  to  give  her  the  news  also. 

"  New  York  is  burnt  to  the  ground  ";  that 
was  the  concise  way  he  put  the  information, 
and  Mrs.  Paget  and  Imogene  perceived  at 
once  the  anger  of  God.  For  it  is  the  easiest 
thing  in  the  world  to  regard  the  calamities  of 
our  enemies  as  judgments  ;  and  very  likely  any 
Northern  Abolitionist  would  have  taken  a 
conflagration  in  New  Orleans  to  be  an  equally 
patent  expression  of  God's  anger. 

This  view  pleased  Nigel  extremely.  He 
exulted  in  the  destruction  of  his  enemies  with 
a  Davidic  fervor.  He  reached  home  in  a  state 


34^  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

of  sectional  patriotism  which  led  him  to  regard 
his  marriage  almost  as  a  sin  against  his  land 
and  his  people.  He  felt,  doubtless,  as  the 
Israelites  felt  who  married  the  beautiful 
daughters  of  Heth,  and  then  suffered  conscien 
tious  scruples  concerning  their  weakness. 

Jane  was  sitting  in  a  rocking  chair  before 
the  fire  when  he  entered  her  presence ;  Palma 
was  on  the  floor  playing  with  little  Paul. 
There  was  a  gurgle  of  baby  laughter,  a  soft 
refrain  of  conversation  between  the  mother 
and  the  nurse,  and  the  crackling  of  the  cedar 
logs  burning  and  blazing  upon  the  hearth. 
The  sounds  were  all  low  and  pleasant,  but 
they  were  not  in  sympathy  with  his  excited 
mood.  He  said  sternly  to  Palma,  "  Take 
your  young  master  up-stairs  ";  and  then  he  sat 
down  beside  Jane. 

But  the  smile  his  entrance  had  evoked  was 
now  gone.  She  was  offended  at  the  curt  dis 
missal  of  her  child.  She  said  coldly,  "  Sup 
per  will  be  ready  in  half  an  hour,"  and  then 
she  resumed  her  gentle  rocking,  with  her  eyes 
sadly  fixed  upon  the  smoke  curling  up  the 
chimney. 

"  Jane,  New  York  is  in  ashes.  Your  father 
has  lost  forty  thousand  dollars." 

"  Oh,  Nigel !  It  is  not  true  !  Surely,  it  is 
not  true  !  How  did  you  hear  it  ?  " 

"  From  your  own  father,"  and  he  tossed  the 
letter  into  her  lap. 


FIRE !  347 

"  You  have  opened  this  letter,  Nigel.  You 
are  welcome  to  read  all  my  letters,  Nigel,  but 
I  do  want  the  pleasure  of  opening  them — espe 
cially  when  they  are  from  my  father." 

"  Self-preservation  is  the  strongest  of  all 
motives.  Letters  that  come  from  the  North  I 
shall  always  open.  I  cannot  afford  to  lose  any 
more  slaves.  I  am  quite  sure  you  know  some 
thing  about  running  off  the  boys  Alexander 
and  Stephen,  but  you  will  give  me  no  satisfac 
tion  on  the  subject." 

"You  mean  your  father's  two  sons?  I  may 
as  well  tell  you  ;  I  have  heard  all  of  that  shame 
ful  story,  Nigel." 

"  I  mean  my  slaves,  Madam." 

"  About  those  unfortunate  boys,  I  will  at 
least  give  you  this  satisfaction.  I  think  who 
ever  ran  them  away  to  freedom  did  you  the 
greatest  possible  kindness.  They  saved  you 
from  committing  an  infamous  and  unnatural 
crime.  If  your  wife  is  of  any  value  in  your 
sight,  they  saved  you  your  wife  and  child  ; 
for  assuredly,  had  you  sold  your  own  flesh  and 
blood,  and  I  known  of  the  fact,  I  would  no 
more  have  lived  with  you  than  I  would  live 
with  a  murderer  whose  hands  were  red  with 
blood.  This  is  the  truth." 

"  I  am  glad  to  know  it.  Permit  me  to  say,  I 
shall  sell  Palma  and  July  at  the  first  good  op 
portunity.  If  you  choose  to  leave  me,  you 
can.  I  shall  not,  however,  suffer  vou  to  take 


34«  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

my  son  away.     I  will  have  him    reared   in  the 
principles  I  profess  and  believe  in." 

Jane's  heart  trembled,  but  she  occupied  her 
self  with  her  letter,  and  when  she  had  finished 
it  she  covered  her  face  with  her  hands  and 
wept. 

"  It  is  a  judgment !  "  he  said.  "  It  is  a  plain 
God's  judgment  on  New  York.  I  am  glad 
the  city  is  burnt,  very  glad;  so  are  the  Pagets." 

"  So  you  opened  my  letter  in  order  to  give 
them  its  intelligence  first.  Nigel,  you  have 
committed  such  a  crime  against  your  own  wife 
as  could  never  have  entered  the  mind  of  a  gen 
tleman.  Until  you  admit  your  fault,  and 
apologize  to  me  for  it,  I  will  not  speak  to 
you." 

Then  she  left  him  alone  with  his  many-col 
ored  thoughts,  each  one  chasing  and  displacing 
the  other.  He  ate  his  supper  in  solitude  ;  he 
smoked  and  meditated  on  all  kinds  of  petty 
revenges.  He  had  but  a  moment  or  two  of 
softer  feelings  ;  and  when  they  led  him  to  the 
room  in  which  he  knew  Jane  was,  they  fled 
away  at  the  sound  of  her  voice,  cooing  and 
singing  to  his  son  instead  of  to  himself.  Yet 
he  partially  opened  the  door  and  looked  in. 
The  child  was  undressed ;  Jane  held  it  in  her 
arms;  he  could  see  the  soft,  yellow  curls  of  its 
little  head  ;  he  heard  it  make  a  sweet,  murmur 
ing  sound  to  her  low  singing,  and  he  listened 
awhile  to  her  lullaby: 


FIRE !  349 

Sleep,  little  Paul,  for,  only  think, 
A  lovely  angel  dressed  in  pink, 
That  never  comes  when  it  is  light, 
Is  waiting  now  to  say  "  Good-night.** 

Just  shut  thine  eyes,  and  thou  wilt  se« 
Her  smiling  face  bend  down  to  thee, 
To  kiss  and  bless  thee  in  thy  sleep, 
And  give  thee  golden  dreams  to  keep. 

Lie  still  as  little  birds  that  dream  ; 
Lie  still  as  lilies  on  their  stream  ; 
Lie  still  as  unsung  hymns  of  joy  ; 
Lie  still — lie  still — lie  still,  my  boy  ! 

He  closed  the  door  and  hesitated  ;  and  to 
hesitate  about  a  good  act  is  generally  to  give  it 
up.  But  he  went  away  smiling.  He  saw  that 
Jane  loved  her  son,  and  he  perceived,  from  the 
silent  way  in  which  she  had  accepted  his  threat 
of  separating  her  from  him,  that  he  had  a  pow 
erful  means  of  compulsion  in  his  keeping. 

We  know  so  little  of  the  heart  that  lies 
nearest  to  us  !  Jane  was  silent,  because  she 
intended  to  act,  aud  not  to  talk.  The  threat- 
enings  against  Palma  and  July  would  have  been 
sufficient  to  urge  her  to  some  action  ;  but  when 
she  perceived  that  the  thought  of  dividing  her 
from  her  little  Paul  was  already  in  his  mind, 
she  needed  no  further  stimulus  to  movement 
of  some  kind.  She  must  go  to  her  father  first. 
He  was  her  best  adviser. 

But  how  was  she  to  get  to  New  York  ?  Nigel 
had  evidently  considered  the  subject  of  revok 
ing  the  deed  which  made  Palma  her  own  prop- 


35°  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

erty.  She  did  not  understand  if  this  could  be 
done  without  her  consent,  but  she  feared  it — 
feared,  at  any  rate,  the  misery  that  must  come, 
both  to  herself  and  Palma,  if  it  was  brought  to 
dispute.  Then  there  was  poor  little  July, 
whose  life  had  become  a  daily  torture;  she 
could  not  leave  her.  Yet,  if  Nigel  permitted 
her  to  visit  New  York,  he  would  certainly  not 
allow  any  of  the  slaves  to  attend  her. 

That  night  she  said  nothing  to  Palma  of  the 
new  threat.  Besides,  the  house  was  thinly 
built,  and  Nigel  was  always  prowling  about, 
watching  and  listening.  She  decided,  if  the 
next  morning  was  fine,  to  take  Paul  for  a' walk, 
and  in  some  open  place  consult  with  the  poor 
girl  whose  freedom  was  at  stake  ;  despair  often 
evokes  some  latent  sense,  strong  for  the  occa 
sion.  Jane  resolved  to  call  upon  this  desperate 
counselor. 

The  morning  was  fine  enough  for  her  pur 
pose — one  of  those  soft,  warm  days  that  are 
common  in  a  Southern  January.  But  she  was 
melancholy,  and  fatigued  with  the  somber 
terrors  that  pursue  anxious  souls  through  the 
shadows  of  the  night.  And  there  was  no  sun 
shine — only  a  gray,  warm,  misty  atmosphere, 
streaked  by  long  flights  of  crows  calling  harshly 
to  each  other.  They  left  the  house  just  as  a 
man  belonging  to  Mrs.  Paget  galloped  furi 
ously  into  the  yard.  Jane  went  the  more 
hastily  onward,  avoiding  the  garden,  and  taking 


FIRE  !  35 l 

almost  unconsciously  the  path  down  the  avenue 
on  which  the  negro  cabins  stood.  All  was 
quiet  there  ;  men  and  women  were  away  at 
their  tasks.  But  as  they  approached  a  larger 
log  hut,  Jane  heard  the  faintest,  sweetest, 
mournfulest  shadow  of  singing  that  ever  fell 
upon  mortal  ears.  "  The  little  children,"  said 
Palma,  in  answer  to  her  questioning  look. 

As  they  came  nearer  to  the  cabin,  the 
soft,  musical  cadences  were  more  distinct,  but 
still  low,  and  inexpressibly  sorrowful.  They 
paused,  naturally,  at  the  open  door,  and  Jane 
looked  in.  About  thirty  little  ones  were  in  the 
room,  all  dressed  alike  in  coarse  garments,  all 
sitting  upon  the  earthen  floor,  patting  their 
small  black  hands,  swaying  their  small  bodies, 
and  singing  together  in  such  strange,  pitiful 
tones  as  could  only  come  from  the  hearts  of 
children  who  had  never  known  a  childish  joy — 
children  amazed  and  terrified  at  their  unsought 
life,  submitting  to  evil  fate  as  dumb  animals  do, 
troubled,  wondering,  uncomplaining. 

De  little  chillen's  feet  so  weary  ! 

So  weary,  so  weary,  Lord. 
De  little  chillen's  feet  so  weary.  Lord  ! 

Call  de  little  chillen,  Lord. 
Come  !  Come  !  Little  chillen,  come  to  Me  / 

Jane  could  not  endure  the  sad,  heart-break 
ing  song.  She  went  in  and  called  them  to  her, 
and  sent  Palma  to  the  house  for  cakes  and 
sweets,  and  begged  Mammy  to  let  them  go  out 


,35 2  SHK   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

and  play.  But  the  favor  seemed  so  shamefully 
small  and  their  amazed  pleasure  in  it  cut  her 
to  the  heart.  She  went  away  unable  to 
restrain  herself,  and  amid  low  weeping  and 
-exclamations  against  the  wrongs  she  saw  every 
where,  she  told  Palma  of  the  new  danger  ap 
proaching  her. 

They  talked  long  over  the  subject,  but  could 
•find  no  light  on  it,  and  could  come  to  no  deci 
sion.  Still,  its  discussion  had  broken  up  their 
minds  as  the  plow  breaks  the  field.  They 
knew  now  their  limitations,  they  were  ready  to 
seize  events.  And  the  moving  event  was  close 
at  hand. 

When  they  returned  to  the  house  there  was 
a  strong  sense  of  something  unusual.  Jane 
•was  told  that  Master  Nigel  had  gone  to  the 
Pagets  as  fast  as  his  horse  could  carry  him. 
And  the  servant  who  had  come  for  him,  with 
out  daringto  speak,  had  given  to  his  fellows  on 
the  Forfar  place  an  intimation  of  tragedy  and 
death.  Jane  turned  up  her  little  nose  con 
temptuously — "  More  abolition  scare,"  she  said 
to  herself.  "  I  never  saw  such  a  lot  of  con 
science  cowards." 

In  about  an  hour,  while  she  was  still  nursing 
her  anger  and  contempt,  Nigel  returned  home. 
He  was  in  as  hot  haste  as  when  he  left  it.  He 
sought  out  Jane  at  once  and  said  : 

"  Jane,  this  is  no  time  for  you  to  indulge 
temper.  Mrs.  Paget  is  dead.  Imogene 


FIREJ  353 

wants  you  to  lend  her  some  of  your  fine  linen 
to  lay  out  the  corpse.  For  some  reason  they 
are  out  of  a  supply." 

"  She  must  have  died  suddenly  ?  " 

"  In  a  moment." 

"  How?" 

"  July  had  disobeyed  a  strict  order,  and  she 
was  punishing  her — and  fell  dead.  It  is  aw- 
•ful!" 

"  Fell  dead  !  with  the  whip  in  her  hand  !  I 
am  glad  of  it.  God  called  her  in  the  very  act 
of  her  sin.  Let  her  answer  to  Him  for  her 
cruelty.  Miserable  woman  !  No  !  I  will  not 
suffer  her  to  touch  anything  I  possess." 

"  Give  me  the  key  of  the  linen-press.  I  shall 
take  what  I  want." 

"  Give  them,  then.  You  shall  not  bring 
them  back  here.  I  will  throw  them  into  the 
fire  if  you  do." 

"  There  is  no  use  in  such  heroics,  Jane.  I 
have  heard  them  too  often  to  be  moved  by 
their  false  sympathy.  And  you  simply  must 
go  to  the  Pagets.  The  whole  neighborhood  is 
there,  or  will  be ;  your  absence  will  make  a 
great  scandal." 

"  I  simply  will  not  go.  There  is  no  power 
on  earth  can  make  me  go — voluntarily." 

"  I  say,  you  shall  go." 

"  We  shall  see." 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

IT   FARED   THUS. 

"  And  I  know  not 

"Which  way  to  look  or  turn.     All  near  at  hand 
Is  turned  to  evil;  and  upon  my  head 
There  falls  a  doom  far  worse  than  I  can  bear. " 

"  And  over  Icarian  wave, 
Coming  with  will  to  save, 
May  Delos'  king  Apollo  gloriously  advance  1 
Yes,  the  dark  sorrow  and  pain 
Far  from  me  Ares  hath  set. 
lo  Pan  !  lo  Pan  !  once  more, 
And  now,  O  Zeus  !  yet  again. 
May  our  swift-sailing  vessels  be  met 
By  the  dawn,  with  clear  light  in  its  train." 

JANE  did  not  go  to  Mrs.  Paget's  funeral. 
Before  the  time  for  the  ceremony  arrived, 
she  had  made  Nigel  understand  that  the  nega 
tive  offense  of  her  absence  might  be  better 
than  the  positive  way  in  which  she  would  be 
certain  to  express  her  feelings  if  she  was  com 
pelled  to  go.  Perhaps  also  he  had  some 
doubts  as  to  his  power  of  compelling  attend 
ance.  At  any  rate,  she  remained  at  home ; 
and  before  Nigel  returned  she  had  heard  all 
about  the  event,  July  having  stolen  away,  dur 
ing  the  subsequent  confusion  and  excitement, 
to  see  her  sister.  The  child  was  almost 

354 


IT  FARED    THUS.  355 

desperate.  Miss  Imogene  said  she  was  her 
mother's  murderer.  She  had  heard  rumors  that 
she  was  to  be  dreadfully  punished,  that  she  was 
to  be  sold  up  the  country,  that  she  was  to  go  to 
the  slave  market  at  New  Orleans — all  kinds  of 
undetermined  terrors  haunted  her  childish 
heart,  and  she  thought  it  a  miraculous  comfort 
that  she  managed  to  weep  for  an  hour  on  her 
sister's  breast,  and  reach  her  miserable  place 
again  undiscovered. 

"  The  funeral  is  over,"  said  Palma  gloomily. 
"July  says  all  the  neighbors  were  there,  and 
many  people  from  Memphis;  and  the  minister 
made  an  address,  and  said  she  was  a  shining 
light,  and  a  fine  example  of  a  good  Christian." 

Jane  looked  up  at  Palma.  Her  face  was 
white  and  swollen  with  weeping,  and  her  eyes 
were  the  eyes  of  angry,  hopeless  despair. 

"What  do  you  think,  Palma?" 

"  I  think  she  was  once  a  cruel,  wicked 
woman,  and  that  she  is  noiv  a  spirit  in  everlast 
ing  pain." 

True  idea  of  flying  from  a  life  that  had  become 
intolerable  had  taken  possession  of  Jane  ;  she 
was  attent  to  every  movement,  and  ready  ta 
seize  the  first  opportunity,  but  nothing  occurred 
for  a  week  likely  to  help  her.  Then,  one  day, 
Nigel  received  a  letter  telling  him  that  his 
factor  in  New  Orleans  had  been  stabbed  to 
death  in  a  duel,  and  that  his  interests  required 
his  immediate  presence  in  that  city.  He  was 


356  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

angry  at  the  intelligence,  but  thought  it  best 
to  act  as  advised.  A  boat  was  leaving  in  two 
hours,  and  he  made  haste  to  catch  it.  Every 
one  was  running  hither  and  thither  at  his 
orders;  but  in  the  midst  of  his  excitement  he 
did  not  forget  to  charge  Mr.  Clay  to  send  July 
to  New  Orleans  with  the  next  gang  that  left 
Foster's  market. 

Jane  remonstrated  ;  she  said  Palma  would  be 
of  no  use  to  her  if  July  was  sold.  She  used 
every  argument  she  could  think  of ;  she  asked 
permission  to  buy  July  herself ;  she  tried  again 
the  pretty,  coaxing  arts  which  had  once  been 
effectual  for  her  desires.  Nigel  listened  to  her 
with  an  angry,  silent  impatience.  Finally, 
when  Jane  had  no  plea  but  tears  left,  he 
said  : 

"  You  should  have  gone  to  the  funeral.  If 
you  had,  I  would  have  given  you  the  little  imp 
of  Satan.  Now  I  intend  to  sell  her  into  the 
blackest  bondage  I  can  find  for  her — body  and 
soul.  She  shall  pay  for  her  devilish  tempers. 
I  promised  my  friend,  over  her  coffin,  to  attend 
to  July,  and  I  mean  to  do  so." 

Then  Jane  dried  her  eyes,  and  thought  only 
of  preventing  such  a  fiendish  revenge.  And, 
brave  as  she  was,  she  resorted,  in  the  first 
place,  to  such  deception  as  would  allay  sus 
picion. 

"  I  have  done  my  duty  now,  Nigel.  My 
hancis  are  clean.  If  you  like  to  undertake  such 


IT  FARED    THUS.  357 

a  piece  of  cruelty,  I  cannot  prevent  you  doing 
so.  But  at  least  sell  Palma  with  her  sister." 

"  I  intend  to  sell  Palma,  but  not  with  her 
sister.  Oh,  no  !  " 

"You  gave  Palma  to  me." 

"  The  gift  was  never  legalized.  I  can  revoke 
it." 

"  I  do  not  understand  your  conception  of 
honor." 

"  Bring  Paul  here,  and  let  me  kiss  him.  I 
have  no  time  for  senseless  talk." 

Very  soon  after  Nigel  had  left,  a  negro 
woman  belonging  to  Paget  Place,  brought  back 
the  linen  borrowed  by  Miss  Imogene.  She 
entered  the  room  with  it  in  her  hands,  and, 
giving  a  polite  message  of  thanks,  was  about  to 
put  it  upon  the  table.  Jane  arrested  the  inten 
tion  by  an  impetuous  movement.  She  said 
angrily : 

"Throw  it  upon  the  fire!  and  tell  Miss 
Imogene  nothing  but  fire  could  purify  it." 

The  woman  instantly  obeyed  the  order,  and 
the  white  bundle  fell  among  the  blazing  cedar 
logs,  and  made  a  dull  flame,  and  then  a  heap 
of  black  tinder.  And  the  two  women,  one 
white  and  free,  one  black  and  bond,  stood 
watching  it  burn  ;  Jane  with  a  still  anger,  the 
slave  with  a  sullen  joy,  and  large  lips  mutter 
ing  :  "  How  long,  O  Lord  !  How  long,  O 
Lord  !  how  long  ?  " 

That  night  Jane  slept  none.    She  was  tossed 


35 8  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

and  tormented  by  schemes  of  escape  which  she 
had  no  power  to  carry  out.  In  fact,  she  had 
no  money,  and  there  were  then  none  of  the 
facilities  for  procuring  it  from  a  distance  which 
now  exist.  Before  she  could  hear  from  her 
father,  Nigel  would  have  returned.  She  could 
not  sell  her  jewels  in  Memphis ;  the  act, 
coupled  with  her  known  dissatisfaction,  would 
arouse  suspicion.  And  yet  she  must  go — and 
she  must  save  Palma  and  July. 

She  thought  until  she  arrived  at  the  point 
when  thought  is  no  longer  possible,  and  apathy 
and  sleep  invade  the  weary'  mind  and  heart. 
It  was  then  daylight,  and,  as  she  lay  uncon 
scious,  the  door  was  opened  for  her,  even  by 
her  husband's  hand.  He  had  forgotten  in  his 
hurry  a  most  important  business  engagement, 
and  at  the  first  stopping-place  he  induced  a 
boy  to  ride  back  with  a  letter  to  Jane. 

She  rose  to  receive  it.  It  had  evidently 
been  written  in  a  great  hurry,  and  the  small, 
cramped  letters  were1  difficult  to  decipher : 

Dear  Jane  : 

I  forgot  that  Thompson's  bill  falls  due  to-morrow.  You 
will  find  the  gold  for  it  in  the  drawer  you  know  of — third  left- 
hand  side.  Give  it  to  Clay  ;  he  will  settle  the  matter.  In 
drawer  number  two,  right-hand  side,  there  is  a  package  of 
three  hundred  and  twenty  dollars  ;  let  Clay  give  it  to  Foster  to 
bring  to  me  when  he  brings  July.  I  shall  require  it  in  buying 
another  man  for'  the  planting.  I  am  sorry  we  parted  so 
coldly  ;  when  I  return  we  must  try  and  come  to  some  better 
understanding.  Kiss  Paul  for  me.  NIGEL. 


IT  FARED    THUS.  359 

Wedded  love  has  a  marvelous  vitality,  and 
this  slight  acknowledgment  of  wrong,  this  pale 
expression  of  affection,  made  Jane's  heart 
glow  and  soften.  She  was  determined  to  use 
the  power  this  letter  gave  her,  but  she  dreamed 
also  of  her  husband's  forgiveness  ;  of  inducing 
him  to  leave  the  South  and  enter  into  some 
business  in  New  York.  She  hoped  her  father 
would  bring  such  a  thing  to  pass  ;  she  was,  in 
fact,  strong  to  work  out  her  own  idea  of  right 
ing  a  dreadful  wrong ;  she  was  not  strong 
enough  to  suffer  and  to  wait  in  patience  for 
God's  time  and  God's  way. 

She  stood  still  a  few  minutes  with  the  letter 
in  her  hand,  and  during  that  short  interval  her 
plan  was  fully  formed.  She  was  going  to  take 
a  terrible  risk,  a  risk  that  meant,  if  she  failed, 
for  Palma  and  July  slavery,  for  herself  certain 
and  irrevocable  separation  from  her  husband. 
She  turned  to  the  waiting  servant. 

"  Awaken  Mr.  Clay.  Tell  him  I  wish  to  see 
him  as  soon  as  possible.  Tell  him  there  is  an 
important  letter  from  Master  Nigel." 

Then  she  dressed  and  went  down-stairs. 
The  parlor  was  yet  cold  and  cheerless  ;  she 
sent  for  the  boy  who  had  brought  the  letter, 
and  was  questioning  him  when  Mr.  Clay 
arrived. 

"  Good-morning,  Mr.  Clay.  Here  is  a  mes 
senger  from  Mr.  Forfar.  He  says  he  was  prom 
ised  four  dollars.  Will  you  ask  him  for  any 


360  SHE  LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

information  he  has,  and  if  you  think  it  right 
pay  him  the  money  ?  " 

The  overseer  turned  to  the  boy — a  tall,  sham 
bling,  tawny  youth — and  was  satisfied  with  his 
report.  He  paid  him  his  wage  and  sent  him 
away.  Then  he  looked  at  Jane  for  the  mes 
sage  brought.  He  had  a  loyal  admiration  for 
her ;  in  some  respects  he  thought  as  she 
thought  ;  his  manner  was  at  once  kind  and  re 
spectful,  and  Jane  felt  its  unspoken  friendliness. 

"  Mr.  Clay,  I  will  get  you  the  money,  and 
you  are  to  pay  a  bill  due  a  man  called  Thomp 
son  ";  she  read  the  instructions  about  it  as  far 
as  they  referred  to  Mr.  Clay,  and  then  looked 
in  his  face.  He  nodded  gravely  ;  it  was  evi 
dent  that  he  understood  the  affair.  "And,  Mr. 
Clay,  you  are  to  help  me  to  take  the  first  boat 
down  the  river — and  I  am  to  bring  July  v.ith 
me !  Oh,  Mr.  Clay,  I  am  afraid  she  is  to  be 
sold  !  Is  there  no  way  of  saving  her?  Surely 
you  can  manage  it." 

He  shook  his  head  sympathetically. 

"  I  wouldn't  try  to  prevent  it,  Madame — no 
use — she  will  be  better  off  anywhere  else." 

"  But  Palma  will  break  her  heart." 

"  No — no  one  does ;  trouble  dies  if  it  isn't 
nursed." 

"  Oh  dear,  what  shall  I  do?  I  cannot  be  a 
partner  in  such  cruelty  !  " 

"  I  will  take  the  girl  to  the  boat.  Perhaps 
—perhaps " 


IT  FARED    THUS.  361 

"What,  Mr.  Clay?" 

"  Perhaps  you  might  induce  Mr.  Forfar  to 
sell  Palma  with  her  sister.  I  should  think  he 
would  find  it  impossible  to  deny  you  that  if 
you  wished  it." 

"  Thank  you,  Mr.  Clay.  I  do  wish  the  sisters 
to  be  together.  You  know  about  their  mother? 
Yes,  I  see  you  do.  It  is  all  so  terrible.  I  will 
pack  a  trunk  and  get  the  child  ready  ;  will  you 
attend  to  all  else?  " 

"  I  will  do  everything  I  can  :  and,  Madame, 
you  must  try  and  not  feel  for  what  you  cannot 
help.  I  had  to  learn  that  lesson,  I  assure  you." 

Jane  put  out  her  hand  and  mutely  thanked 
him.  Then  she  asked,  "  How  soon  will  there 
be  a  boat  ?  " 

"  This  afternoon — the  '  Alphonse  Soule  ' — a 
very  good  boat.  You  had  better  try  and  catch 
it.  But  you  must  be  at  the  dock  about  three. 
Can  you  ?  " 

"  Yes.     You  will  bring  July,  then  ?  " 

"  On  second  thought,  I  think,  if  I  were  you, 
Madame,  I  would  tell  the  girl  myself.  She  is 
sure  to  suspect,  and  may  make  a  scene.  Tell 
her  Palma  is  to  be  sold  with  her.  She  will  be 
glad  to  get  away  if  Palma  is  with  her." 

"  Very  well.  But  you  will  go  with  us  to  the 
boat.  I  should  like  it." 

"  I  will  see  you  safely  on  board.  The  car- 
riage  will  be  ready  at  half-past  one." 

"  Thank  you," 


362  SHE   LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

She  had  thanked  him  already  a  thousand 
times  by  her  constant  gentle  manner ;  her 
courteous  treatment ;  her  never-failing  recog 
nition  of  his  social  existence.  He  busied  him 
self  in  preparations  for  her  comfort,  and,  amid 
all  the  hurry  incident  to  a  journey,  found  time  to 
ride  into  Memphis  and  attend  to  Thompson's 
bill,  so  that  Jane  might  take  the  assurance 
with  her. 

In  a  few  words  she  made  Palma  understand 
that  they  were  on  a  desperate  journey  ;  that 
her  own  and  July's  freedom  was  the  end  of  it  ; 
but  she  did  not  discuss  the  subject  with  her. 
She  was  yet  uncertain  of  everything  but  her 
own  intentions;  and  she  felt  that  she  must  not 
talk  away  her  enthusiasm.  She  moved  like  a 
woman  in  a  dream ;  she  was  quiet,  swift,  com 
manding. 

At  three  o'clock  they  were  all  safely  on  the 
boat — they  were  going  down  the  river.  Mr. 
Clay  had  lifted  his  hat  in  farewell,  and  was  rid 
ing  back  to  the  plantation,  chewing  tobacco 
furiously,  either  to  aid  or  to  quiet  his  thoughts. 
Unconsciously,  Jane  was  feeling  a  little  hard 
at  the  compulsion  laid  upon  her — unconsciously 
resenting  alike  the  swift  conscience  and  the 
kind  heart  which  urged  her  to  resign  her  love 
and  home  for  an  ideal  of  mercy  and  justice. 
She  had  many  fleeting  doubts,  many  sharp 
pangs  of  wounded  affection ;  she  was  heart- 
heavy,  and  there  was  a  great  strait  b^fore  her, 


IT  FARED    THUS.  363 

ere  she  could  say  to  the  cowering  girls,  regard 
ing  her  furtively  with  large  sorrowful  eyes — 
*'  You  are  safe." 

When  they  reached  New  Orleans  it  was  dark. 
They  went  at  once  to  the  pier  at  which  the 
New  York  packets  lay ;  and  Jane  paid  the 
stewardess  to  permit  them  to  come  on  board. 
But  the  ship  did  not  sail  until  the  afternoon  of 
the  following  day,  and  during  the  long  hours  of 
tension  and  anxiety  Jane  sat  motionless,  hour 
after  hour.  The  strain  of  listening  and  waiting 
was  agonizing.  She  ate  nothing  all  day,  she 
scarcely  spoke  a  word  ;  all  her  strength  was 
needed  for  the  cruel  suspense  she  had  to  endure. 
Palma  and  July  also  felt  the  extremity  of  mental 
fear.  A  tap  at  the  cabin  door  made  July  shriek. 
Palma  was  on  the  point  of  losing  consciousness 
several  times ;  and  about  two  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  Jane's  strength  failed  ;  she  dropped 
into  a  deep  sleep  of  exhaustion.  When  she 
awoke  it  was  dark,  the  ship  was  afloat — was 
some  way  down  the  river  ;  they  could  already 
feel  the  salt  breath  of  the  sea. 

Then  she  wept  tears  of  joy,  she  thanked  God, 
she  took  her  baby  in  her  arms,  she  kissed  Palma 
and  July,  and  told  them  they  were  truly  on  the 
road  to  freedom.  "  Kneel  down,  both  of  you, 
and  thank  God  ;  then  sleep  till  daylight ;  sleep 
sweetly  ;  sleep  as  you  never  slept  before  ;  no 
one  now  shall  wake  you  to  slavery." 

They   arrived  in  New  York    early  one    cold 


364  SHE  LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

morning,  at  the  end  of  February.  Jane  went  at 
once  to  her  father's  house.  John  Paul  had 
just  finished  his  lonely  breakfast  ;  he  was  stand 
ing  at  the  window  looking  at  the  gray  sky,  and 
predicting  snow,  when  the  carriage  stopped  at 
his  garden  gate,  and  then,  while  he  was  still 
wondering  at  the  circumstance,  drove  up  to  his 
door.  He  went  to  open  it,  and  found  Jane  on 
the  step,  with  little  Paul  in  her  arms. 

With  a  glad  cry  he  took  them  to  his  heart ; 
then  he  paid  the  carriage  and  shut  his  recov 
ered  treasure  within  his  home.  He  was  laugh 
ing  and  crying  and  talking  all  at  once.  He  had 
the  child  in  his  arms  as  he  gave  one  order  after 
another — for  breakfast,  for  fires,  for  the  cradle 
in  the  garret  to  be  brought  down-stairs. 

The  wonder  and  joy  had  been  so  great  that 
for  a  few  minutes  Palma  and  July  were  foi- 
gotten.  They  stood  together  at  the  end  of 
the  room,  silent,  their  hearts  full  of  their 
lost  mother,  and  of  grand-looking  white  father, 
who  had  always  been  so  kind  to  them.  John 
Paul  suddenly  became  conscious  of  their  pres 
ence,  and  he  looked  inquiringly  at  Jane.  For 
both,  though  very  handsome,  were  poorly 
dressed  ;  and  beauty  unadorned  is  unadorned, 
and  not  adorned  the  most.  Jane  was  in  a  mo 
mentary  dilemma.  What  was  to  be  their  posi 
tion  ?  Her  kindest  thoughts,  however,  were 
her  quickest  thoughts,  and  she  said  : 

"  They  are  Palma  and  July  Forfar  ;  Nigel's 


IT  FARED    THUS.  .365 

half-sisters.  They  were  to  have  been  sold  as 
slaves,  and  I  have  brought  them  to  you,  father, 
for  succor  and  salvation." 

"  Come  here,  my  dears,"  and  he  kissed  them 
kindly.  "  No  one  shall  hurt  you.  Take  my 
word  for  it." 

Palma  slipped  upon  her  knees  and  kissed  his 
hand,  and  July  began  to  cry. 

He  lifted  the  girl  at  once,  and  drew  July  close 
to  his  side,  and  Jane  uncovered  the  child's 
shoulders,  and  showed  him  where  the  lash  had 
cut  away  the  flesh  and  scarred  the  slender 
arms.  He  burned  with  anger,  and  as  Jane 
told  in  rapid  words,  with  impetuous  pity  and 
streaming  eyes,  the  story  she  had  just  lived 
through,  the  old  man  was  aflame  with  wrath. 
"  Only  God  can  judge  such  wrongs !  Only 
God  ! "  he  cried,  and  then  he  accepted  still 
more  fully  the  charge  of  their  care  and 
safety. 

On  talking  more  confidentially  with  Jane,  he 
said,  "You  must  go  a  little  while  into  hiding, 
my  girl.  That  man  will  be  here  anon,  and  take 
little  Paul  from  you.  Oh,  he  can  do  it  !  I 
have  thought  of  everything.  I  will  go  with 
you.  We  will  make  Liverpool  first,  and  leave 
Palma  and  July  in  their  brothers'  care.  Then, 
my  Jane,  we  will  travel  by  our  two  selves,  from 
country  to  country,  for  one  year  ;  or  we  will 
stay  'where  the  broad  ocean  leans  against  the 
land  ' — that  is  Holland,  my  dear  ;  I  have  some 


3^6  s/fE   LOVED   A    SAILOX. 

cousins  there  yet,  and  they  will  make  us  wel 
come  ;  I  know  they  will." 

"  Father,  you  are  very  good  to  me.  Can  you 
leave  your  business  so  long  ?  " 

"  You  are  my  business,  Jane,  at  present. 
But,  indeed,  I  have  little  business  since  the 
fire.  I  have  my  stores  to  rebuild,  and  to-day  I 
will  see  the  architect,  and  leave  all  in  his 
charge.  Indeed,  I  am  sure  it  will  be  a  good 
thing  for  me  to  be  away  till  New  York  is  her 
self  again." 

For  a  week,  at  least,  they  might  consider 
themselves  secure.  Mr.  Clay,  certainly,  had 
not  a  suspicion.  He  was  not  likely  to  write  to 
Nigel,  and  Nigel  was  expecting  Foster  with 
July,  and  would  not  be  likely  to  write  to  Clay 
until  he  found  Foster  brought  neither  July  nor 
money.  Then  his  letter  of  inquiry  would  have 
to  be  answered.  All  this  would  take  time,  and 
it  was  probable  that  Nigel,  even  then,  knew 
nothing  of  the  flight  of  his  wife  and  his  slaves. 

The  greatest  danger  was  over  when  they 
were  not  discovered  in  New  Orleans.  For 
there,  if  Nigel  had  happened  to  meet  the  cap 
tain  of  the  "Alphonse  Soule,"  the  latter  would 
have  certainly  spoken  of  Mrs.  Forfar  coming 
down  the  river  with  him.  Everything  had 
rested  for  a  few  hours  on  the  chance  of  these 
two  men  not  meeting.  But  that  fear  was  now 
past,  and  Jane  believed  no  danger  possible  for 
at  least  another  week. 


IT  FARED    THUS.  367 

She  went  .out  and  bought  suitable  clothing 
for  a  winter  voyage,  and  then  called  upon  Vir 
ginia.  It  was  a  sad  surprise.  Jane  spent  the 
whole  day  in  the  recital  of  her  sufferings  and 
in  the  discussion  of  the  position  in  which  she 
found  herself.  She  met  with  a  sincere  sympa 
thy,  and  yet  she  was  conscious  that  Virginia 
did  not  quite  approve  of  her  conduct  to 
Nigel. 

"What  would  you  have  done?"  she  asked 
anxiously,  and  Virginia  could  not  say  what  she 
would  have  done  ;  only,  she  thought,  she  would 
have  put  her  husband  always  first.  But  Vir 
ginia  was  much  in  love,  and  very  sensitive  to 
the  rights  of  love  ;  she  was  judging  Jane  from 
the  lofty  standpoint  of  her  own  ideals,  and  no 
experience  had  yet  taught  her  that  ideals  are 
often  poor  measures  for  facts. 

Nothing  was  said  of  Virginia's  intended  mar 
riage.  Jane  spoke  of  Captain  Bradford's  assist 
ance  in  the  matter  of  the  boys  Alexander  and 
Stephen,  and  she  listened  to  the  details  of  their 
rescue  with  a  slight  enthusiasm.  But  there 
was  a  danger  past,  and  the  danger  present 
made  the  danger  past  of  small  interest.  She  re 
membered  also,  in  a  vague  way,  what  Harry 
had  said  about  Virginia's  supposed  engage 
ment  to  Captain  Bradford,  but  as  Virginia  did 
not  mention  the  subject,  she  had  no  desire  to 
open  it.  Her  own  trials  were  so  pressing,  the 
troubles  of  matrimony  so  real,  a  love-affair  ao- 


368  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

peared  an  almost  childish  pleasure — a  pleasure 
a  very  long  way  behind  her. 

She  stayed  until  dark  with  her  friend,  but 
they  parted  without  real  grief.  Jane  thought 
Virginia  had  been  not  only  a  little  severe  about 
the  loyalty  of  wives,  but  also  rather  indifferent 
about  little  Paul.  She  told  her  father  so,  and 
Mr.  Keteltas  excused  Virginia  on  the  ground 
that  she  had  no  practical  idea  of  the  conditions 
•of  wifehood  and  motherhood.  "  She  is  in  a 
paradise  of  love,  my  dear,  and  the  serpent  has 
not  yet  entered  it — and  I  hope  never  will — I 
am  sure  I  do.  Virginia  is  a  good  girl." 

And  Virginia  on  her  part  had  the  sensation 
of  being  rudely  awakened  to  some  sorrow.  A 
strange  ominous  depression  invaded  her  own 
happy  dreams.  In  three  months  she  hoped  to 
be  herself  a  wife.  In  three  months  the  bliss 
ful  time  of  wooing  would  be  over.  She  felt  al 
most  angry  that  these  last  days  of  love's  proba 
tion  had  been  so  forcibly  tinged  with  such  dark 
matrimonial  shadows.  Jane's  doleful  prognos 
tications  seemed  to  invite  trouble,  and  it  was 
hard  to  escape  the  unfortunate  atmosphere  she 
had  brought  with  her.  For  no  one  likes  to  see 
an  unhappy  wife  :  she  affronts  their  ideal,  or 
darkens  their  hopes,  or  asks  them  for  sympathy 
they  do  not  give  without  some  mental  reserva 
tion. 

Jane  was  very  sensitive  to  this  reservation. 
"  Let  us  go  away  as  soon  as  possible,  father," 


IT  FARED    THUS.  369 

she  pleaded.     "  I  do  not  think  any  one  but  you 
is  really  glad  to  see  me." 

John  Paul  was  ready  to  grant  her  request. 
In  fact,  he  had  long  suffered  from  a  self-accusa 
tion  he  could  find  no  apology  to  mitigate. 
When  Jane's  first  letters  of  dissatisfaction  came, 
he  answered  them  rather  sternly ;  he  reminded 
her  of  her  duty,  and  urged  her  to  make  the 
best  of  circumstances  she  had  voluntarily 
chosen.  But  even  while  so  writing,  he  was 
compelled  to  reflect  that  he  himself  had  not 
only  urged  and  hurried  on  the  marriage,  but 
also  willfully  suffered  Jane  to  be  misled  in  the 
very  matter  which  had  wrecked  her  happiness. 

And,  examining  himself  still  more  closely, 
he  sorrowfully  admitted  certain  matrimonial 
intentions  of  his  own  at  the  time,  which  he 
supposed  would  be  advanced  by  Jane's  settle 
ment.  True,  they  had  come  to  nothing;  yet, 
if  they  had  never  existed,  he  believed  he  would 
have  delayed  Jane's  marriage  for  a  year. 
There  were  other  circumstances  which  had  op 
erated  against  Jane — circumstances  relating 
to  money,  of  which  she  knew  nothing  at  all — 
entanglements  going  back  to  the  days  of 
Nigel's  father.  He  now  asked  his  conscience 
questions  he  ought  to  have  asked  it  long  ago, 
and  the  answering  of  them  made  him  very 
severe  with  himself,  and  very  tender  with  his 
daughter. 

Immediately  after  Jane's  return  to  him,  he 


37°  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

wrote  to  the  deserted  husband.  He  sent  back 
the  money  Jane  had  taken  for  her  traveling 
expenses,  and  said  : 

Dear  Nigel  : 

Jane  has  come  home  to  me.  She  is  ill,  and  looks  ten  years 
older  than  when  you  married  her.  That  is  all  wrong.  There 
has  been  a  great  mistake  made,  and  I  am  going  to  take  her  to 
Kurope  for  a  year  to  think  it  over.  When  we  return  to  New 
York,  you  two  must  begin  life  entirely  anew.  I  doubt  if  Jane 
can  ever  go  to  the  South  again  :  well,  then,  I  have  so  much  in 
terest  in  the  property  there  as  to  give  my  voice  for  its  sale.  I 
am  a  rich  man,  and  can  help  you  as  well  in  one  place  as  in 
another.  Jane's  happiness  is  the  first  thing  ;  all  must  bend  to 
that.  I  will  take  good  care  of  your  wife  and  son,  and  I  trust 
bring  them  back  in  better  case  than  I  find  them  at  this  present. 
Then,  come  to  New  York,  and  let  us  talk  the  past  and  the 
future  wisely  and  kindly  over.  Jane  sends  her  love,  and  I 
am  still  your  true  friend, 

JOHN  PAUL  KETELTAS. 

A  few  days  after  the  posting  of  this  letter 
Jane  was  at  sea.  Crossing  the  Atlantic  in 
winter  is  seldom  a  pleasant  experience,  and  all 
of  the  party  suffered  from  cold  and  from  the 
many  insufficient  comforts  of  a  sea  voyage  at 
that  date.  They  were  nearly  five  weeks  on  the 
•water.  But  at  length  the  low  water  of  the 
Mersey  was  visible,  and  the  port  of  Liverpool 
made.  The  weather  was  very  unpleasant  and 
gloomy.  They  only  delayed  long  enough  to 
put  Palma  and  July  in  their  brothers'  care,  and 
then  hastened  to  the  south  of  Europe. 

But  though  many  happy  months  were  spent 
neither  was  heartily  satisfied.  Jane  felt  the 


IT   FARED    THUS.  37* 

inextinguishable  longing  of  love.  Away  from 
Nigel  she  found  many  excuses  for  him  ;  indeed, 
she  came  to  the  conviction  that  all  his  faults 
arose  from  his  environments.  And  John  Paul 
longed  for  New  York  until  the  longing  became 
a  real  nostalgia.  The  grand  streets  of  Euro 
pean  capitals  bored  him  ;  he-  wanted  to  tread 
the  bright,  gay  Broadway  of  New  York.  The 
American  skies  haunted  him  like  a  dream  ;  he 
could  feel  the  fresh  breeze  blowing  across  Man 
hattan  Island.  He  fancied  himself  among  the 
busy  crowds  in  Wall  and  Pearl  and  South 
Streets.  He  longed  to  hear  the  objectionable 
name  of  Andrew  Jackson  ;  to  find  some  one 
interested  in  the  United  States  Bank  to  argue 
with  would  have  been  far  better  to  him  than 
all  the  operas  ever  sung. 

Jane  perceived  this  growing  sickness,  and 
understood  it.  She  also  shared  it,  and  one  day 
she  asked  herself  why  it  should  be  any  longer 
borne?  John  Paul  stood  at  the  window  of  the 
hotel,  gazing  mournfully  into  the  mournful 
square.  The  air  was  thick  with  November  fog. 
The  sky  was  not  visible.  She  knew  by  her 
own  heart  that  he  was  dreaming  of  New  York 
in  the  bright  days  of  the  Indian  summer,  feel 
ing  the  soft  airs  and  the  mellow  sunshine  of 
that  heavenly  season  all  around  him.  She 
divined  also  that  he  would  not  complain;  nor 
take  any  step  to  hurry  their  return,  and  she 
said,  with  a  sudden  eagerness: 


3 7 2  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

"  Dear  father,  let  us  go  back  to  New  York. 
What  are  we  here  for?  Let  us  go  back  to 
New  York  to-morrow — to-day — in  an  hour.  I 
can  be  ready." 

"  Oh,  Jane  !     Do  you  really  think  so?  " 

"  I  long  to  go  home." 

"  So  do  I." 

In  a  couple  of  hours  they  were  on  the  road 
to  Liverpool.  There  a  short  delay  was  una 
voidable,  but  it  was  brightened  by  a  visit  to 
the  happy  family  they  had  saved  from  a  fate 
•worse  than  death.  Both  John  Paul  and  Jane 
recovered  a  healthy  cheerfulness  in  the  pretty 
home  which  sheltered -it — a  little  brick  house 
in  a  quiet  street,  but  Alexander  and  Stephen 
had  united  their  purses  in  its  furnishing,  and 
Palma  kept  it  with  a  beautiful  care  and  econ 
omy.  July  was  going  to  school,  and  happy  as 
a  bird  in  spring-time  ;  it  was  indeed  hard  to  be 
lieve  that  the  slave  child  and  the  free  child 
were  identical. 

As  they  left  the  house  forever,  Jane  turned 
her  head  for  a  last  look.  The  two  boys  and 
Palma  and  July  stood  on  the  steps  watching 
them  away.  The  tall,  slender  figure  of  Palma 
struck  her  most.  Palma  still  wept  for  her  lost 
mother;  still  felt  the  shadow  of  slavery.  John 
Paul  looked  steadily  at  the  four  and  then  at 
his  own  daughter.  "She  had  paid  the  cost  of 
their  freedom.  "  Every  good  thing  has  its 
price,"  he  thought ;  "  some  one — God  or  man 


IT  FARED    THUS.  373 

— pays  for  it.  Has  Jane  paid  too  much,  I 
•wonder?"  Then  he  felt  a  sentiment  of  holy 
pride  in  the  fact  that  she  had  been  able  to  lay 
down  her  love  and  her  own  hopes  for  the 
salvation  of  those  ready  to  perish.  There  was 
something  like  the  love  of  God  in  it — some 
thing  better,  surely,  than  the  love  of  Nigel 
Forfar.  He  looked  at  Jane  with  a  new  re- 
spect  ;  he  understood  now  the  serenity  and  the 
gravity  that  made  her  beauty  so  much  finer. 

Their  voyage  home  was  long  and  rough ;  it 
was  after  Christmas  when  they  reached  Sandy 
Hook  and  ran  up  the  Stars  and  Stripes.  John 
Paul  happened  to  be  on  deck  when  the  cere 
mony  took  place.  Cold  as  it  was,  he  could  not 
bear  to  lose  a  single  landmark  ;  and  when  the 
familiar  slip  was  reached,  his  feet  tingled  with 
the  desire  to  tread  it. 

When  he  left  New  York,  houses  were  very 
scarce  ;  and  he  rented  his  home  to  an  old  busi 
ness  associate  for  a  year.  The  time  was  not 
out,  and  until  some  arrangement  could  be 
made,  he  was  compelled  to  go  to  a  hotel.  But 
that  was  a  small  matter.  He  was  in  New  York 
again,  and  all  other  troubles  were  manageable 
from  that  vantage  ground.  They  landed  about 
noon  on  a  clear,  cold,  sunny  day,  and  went  to 
the  City  Hotel. 

In  an  hour  John  Paul  was  on  the  street; 
was  renewing  his  business  relations,  and  gath 
ering  together  the  dropped  threads  of  his 


374  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

usual  life.  He  came  back  at  nightfall,  de 
lighted  with,  everything.  All  was  going  well. 
New  York  was  better  than  ever.  He  had  the 
promise  of  his  own  home  in  two  weeks.  His 
stores  were  rebuilt  and  occupied.  On  the  next 
day  he  would  resume  the  methodical  life  which 
satisfied  him  far  better  than  idling  long  days 
away  among  pictures  he  did  not  understand, 
and  among  people  who  had  never  heard  of 
General  Andrew  Jackson,  and  who  had  even 
very  dim  and  unworthy  ideas  of  the  great 
United  States,  and  no  conception  at  all  of  the 
tremendous  questions  then  agitating  its  sov 
ereign  people. 

It  was  just  three  years  since  Jane's  marriage. 
She  was  sitting  in  the  comfortably  warmed 
room  at  twilight,  playing  with  her  child,  and 
thinking  of  the  anniversary.  Involuntarily 
she  said,  "  Poor  Nigel  !  "  At  the  close  of 
every  train  of  reflection  the  exclamation  came 
as  a  natural  conclusion.  She  caught  up  Nigel's 
son,  and  kissed  him  to  the  memory  of  his 
father.  At  that  hour  she  thought  there  had 
been  a  great  cruelty  in  the  fate  which  set  her 
between  her  husband  and  a  duty  so  evident 
and  yet  so  fatal  to  her  happiness.  They  who 
cross  Destiny  have  sorrow  enough.  Had  she 
crossed  Destiny  ?  Had  she  done  evil  to  her 
self  that  good  might  come  to  others?  The 
good  she  had  seen,  but  was  the  root  of  bitter- 
ness  to  remain  with  her  ?  She  was  troubling 


IT  FARED    THUS.  375 

herself  with  such  thoughts  when  John  Paul 
returned. 

It  was  near  the  supper  hour.  The  guests 
were  gathering  in  every  room.  The  hotel  was 
ablaze  with  light  and  comfort,  and  the  large 
parlors  were  full  of  richly  dressed  women.  Jane 
felt  the  unconscious  stimulation  of  numbers. 
She  was  affected  also  by  her  father's  radiant 
face  and  manner. 

"Come,  Jane,  put  on  that  splendid  dress  of 
ti&rive  you  bought  in  Paris.  You  will  see 
many  old  acquaintances.  I  want  you  to  look 
•well,  for  there  is  no  necessity  to  tell  the  world 
that  Nigel  and  you  do  not  understand  each 
other."  Jane  looked  approvingly  at  the  purple 
silk  she  wore,  but  John  Paul  shook  his  head. 
"  You  look  handsomer  in  the  tigrive" 

So,  to  please  her  happy  father,  she  left  the 
child  with  its  nurse,  and  arrayed  herself  in  the 
thick,  soft,  levantine  satin,  figured  like  a  dull, 
rich  tiger-skin.  It  had  long,  loose  sleeves,  and 
the  gold  bands  encircling  her  arms  and  throat 
and  gleaming  in  her  hair  were  exceedingly 
handsome  and  becoming.  John  Paul  took  her 
on  his  arm  with  great  pride.  He  wished  by  her 
splendid  appearance  to  put  a  stop  at  once  to  all 
suspicious  questions  or  suppositions. 

His  plan  appeared  to  be  quite  successful.  A 
great  many  old  acquaintances  met  and  wel 
comed  her  home ;  and  not  one  of  all  dreamed 
that  the  richly  attired,  brilliant  woman  carried 


376  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

a  heavy  heart  beneath  her  silken  vest.  With  a 
cheerful  abandon  that  was  at  least  unselfish,  she 
fell  graciously  into  her  father's  mood.  She  put 
on  the  face  and  smiles  and  manners  of  a  happy 
wife,  and  the  affectation  brought  her  a  passing 
sense  of  the  reality. 

As  they  passed  through  a  long,  brilliantly 
lighted  corridor,  Jane  saw  the  nurse  advancing 
with  her  son.  She  stooped  slightly,  and 
stretched  out  both  her  arms  to  the  toddling 
little  babe.  Her  face  was  shining  with  maternal 
love.  Her  splendid  robe  and  golden  orna 
ments  and  coronal  of  light  hair  gave  to  her 
small  figure  a  transfiguring  beauty.  John  Paul 
stood  by  her  side  admiring  his  daughter,  and 
lovingly  watching  the  short,  swaying  steps  of 
his  grandson. 

It  was  at  this  moment  a  tall,  dark  man  opened 
a  door  close  by  Jane's  right  hand,  but  slightly 
behind  her.  He  also  stood  watching  the 
exquisite  tableau,  but  only  for  a  moment  or 
two.  Then  he  stepped  between  the  mother 
and  son,  and  said  one  word  : 

"Jane!" 

"Oh,  Nigel!  Nigel!"  and  she  forgot  the 
child — forgot  her  father — forgot  the  whole 
world,  and  found  somehow,  in  a  moment,  every 
one  and  everything  in  her  husband. 

John  Paul  greeted  him  a  little  coldly,  and 
then  went  away.  He  felt  it  was  best  to  leave 
Jane  alone  in  the  first  hours  of  the  reconcilia- 


IT  FAKED    THUS.  377 

tion  he  was  sure  would  follow.  He  went  down 
into  the  office  and  talked  without  interest  of 
the  things  which  had  been  all  day  of  such  great 
interest  to  him.  This  matrimonial  problem 
was  to  face  again,  and  it  was  harder  than  any 
business  question.  He  would  not  force  it, 
however;  they  must  send  for  him,  then  he 
could  stand  on  the  defensive  side  and  guard 
Jane's  interests  best. 

It  was  some  hours  before  Nigel  came  to  him. 
'"  Go  and  speak  with  Jane,"  he  said  ;  "  she  can 
not  sleep  until  you  do."  He  went  with  a  sin 
gular  reluctance.  As  he  climbed  the  stairs  he 
felt  as  if  he  was  walking  into  a  great  darkness. 
He  could  not  by  any  effort  compel  the  appear 
ance  of  even  a  decent  pretense  of  satisfaction 
in  the  reconciliation.  And  yet  he  told  himself 
that  it  was  the  end  most  desirable — the  end  he 
really  wished. 

Jane  was  very  happy.  She  leaned  her  head 
on  her  father's  breast,  and  said  "  Nigel  had 
forgiven  her  everything."  She  would  now 
scarcely  admit  that  she  had  anything  to  for 
give.  She  had  taken  on  her  own  shoulders  the 
whole  blame,  and  John  Paul  found  himself 
compelled  to  treat  with  Nigel  on  this  basis. 

"  Nigel  has  shown  me  where  I  was  wrong," 
she  said  penitently.  "  Instead  of  complain 
ing  about  the  cruelties  of  slavery,"  he  says,  "  I 
ought  to  have  done  something  to  make  it  bet 
ter.  He  is  sure  I  might  have  lightened  the  lot 


3?8  SHE  LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

of  all  his  slaves,  made  their  homes  brighter, 
and  taught  them  that  obedience  to  law  and 
faithfulness  in  duty  is  demanded  of  all — black 
and  white.  Oh,  father!  I  am  ashamed  of  my 
complaints  of  others  when  I  think  how  much 
I  neglected  myself.  But  I  will  do  better  ;  yes, 
I  will  alter  everything,  with  God's  help." 

"Then  you  are  going  back,  Jane?  Think 
twice,  my  girl,  about  that  step." 

"  In  the  place  where  I  have  done  wrong,  in 
that  same  place  I  must  try  and  put  the  wrong- 
right.  Poor  Nigel  !  He  says  there  have  .been 
the  most  dreadful  reports  about  my  leaving 
him.  Though  he  asserted  that  I  had  gone 
with  you  to  Europe,  no  one  believed  him. 
He  has  so  many  enemies,  all  ready  to  blacken 
his  name,  and  they  said  shameful  things  about 
him  and  Miss  Paget.  No  one  would  notice 
her ;  she  was  obliged  to  go  to  her  brother  in 
New  Orleans.  You  see  I  can  only  put  Nigel 
right  in  Memphis  by  going  back  with  him.  We 
shall  be  happy  now.  I  am  glad  Imogene 
Paget  is  gone  ;  yes,  I  can  manage  Nigel  now." 

"  Jane !  Jane !  I  fear  !  I  fear  I  know  not 
what." 

"  There  is  nothing  to  fear  now,  father.  That 
Miss  Paget  made  all  the  trouble.  I  am  glad 
she  is  gone.  I  am  very  happy  to-night,  dear 
father,  very  happy." 

She  was  indeed  so  happy  that  she  felt  it  pos 
sible,  nay,  imperative,  to  see  Virginia.  At  her 


IT  FARED    THUS.  379 

last  visit  Virginia's  happiness  and  her  own  mis 
ery  had  been  too  great  a  contrast.  She  felt 
that  she  must  hasten  to  tell  her  how  Nigel  had 
watched  and  waited  for  her  return,  how  he  had 
left  all  to  do  so,  how  well  their  love  had  stood 
such  dreadful  tests,  how  happy  she  was,  how 
much  happier  she  was  going  to  be  in  the  work 
of  blessing  before  her.  For,  indeed,  her  hap 
piness  was  not  a  selfish  one  ;  in  the  first  hours 
of  her  reunion  with  her  husband  she  had 
called  to  mind  the  desolate  homes  she  would 
make  pleasanter,  the  sorrowful  women  she 
would  help  and  comfort. 

Full  of  such  hopes  and  dreams,  she  went  to 
the  Mason  House.  It  struck  her  unhappily, 
for  houses  have  a  physiognomy,  and  in  some 
subtile  way  reflect  the  prosperity  or  adversity, 
the  joy  or  sorrow,  of  their  inhabitants.  Nelly 
Haworth  opened  the  door.  Jane  looked  at  her 
with  such  an  air  of  intentional  satisfaction  as 
roused  in  Nelly  at  once  an  antagonistic  feeling. 

"  Well,  Nelly !  You  here  yet  ?  I  thought 
you  were  married." 

"  I  am  married,  Mrs.  Forfar.  I  hed  no  more 
sense  than  lots  of  other  lasses." 

"  And  where  is  John  Thomas,  Nelly  ?  " 

"  He  is  living  here,  ma'am — minding  the 
horses  and  the  like." 

"  I  thought  he  was  a  sailor." 

"  He  is  Yorkshire,  ma'am,  and  horses  comes 
as  natural  to  a  Yorkshire  lad  as  water  to  a 


380  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

duck.  John  Thomas  were  allays  after  horses. 
If  he  was  dead,  and  anyone  shook  a  bridle  o'er 
his  grave,  he  would  get  up  and  trade  or  ride  ; 
he  would  that." 

While  this  conversation  was  in  progress, 
Nelly  had  taken  Jane  into  the  familiar  parlor, 
had  raised  the  shades  a  little  and  replenished 
the  fire. 

"  I'll  tell  Miss  Mason  you  are  here,  ma'am. 
She  hes  been  varry  poorly  lately.  I  hope  you 
may  raise  her  spirits  a  bit,  I'm  sure." 

In  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour  Virginia  ap 
peared.  Jane  had  become  slightly  offended  at 
her  delay,  but  when  she  saw  the  pale  shadow 
of  her  former  friend,  every  other  feeling  was 
lost  in  amazement  and  sympathy.  Virginia 
walked  with  slow  and  uncertain  steps  ;  she  was 
much  emaciated  ;  her  whole  appearance  was 
wan,  almost  diaphanous.  She  wore  a  large 
white  shawl,  and  Nelly  followed  with  some  furs 
which  she  carefully  folded  about  her  feet. 

"  You  are  sick,  Virginia,  and  I  never  heard 
of  it !  " 

"  I  have  been  sick  for  nine  months,  Jane  ;  a 
little  weaker  every  day.  I  do  not  suffer  much. 
I  am  glad  to  see  you  looking  so  well  and  so 
happy." 

"  I  am  happy,  Virginia — so  happy  at  last ! 
Nigel  and  I  have  come  to  a  clear  understand 
ing.  I  am  glad  I  went  away  ;  he  found  out 
when  he  missed  me  how  dear  I  was  to  him." 


IT  FARED    THUS.  381 

•'  Ah,  yes  !  absence  tries  love — cruelly  tries 
love,  I  should  think." 

She  spoke  with  the  pathos  of  actual  suffering, 
but  Jane  was  too  absorbed  in  her  own  circum 
stances  to  detect  any  personality  in  the  remark. 
She  entered  into  a  detailed  account  of  their 
travel,  of  her  father's  longing  for  New  York,  of 
the  condition  of  the  slaves  whom  she  had  saved, 
of  Nigel  Forfar's  misery  at  her  flight  and 
absence,  and  the  plans  they  had  made  for  the 
future  improvement  of  their  people. 

"  We  have  even  considered  their  religious 
education,"  she  said,  with  a  little  conscious  air 
of  spiritual  satisfaction.  "  Nigel  cannot  allow 
preaching,  but  I  am  to  have  a  Sunday-school, 
and  read  to  them  from  the  New  Testament." 

"  Would  it  not  be  better  to  teach  them 
to  read  ?  Then  they  could  find  their  own 
strength  and  comfort." 

"  Nigel  says  that  those  who  can  read  become 
dissatisfied  and  disobedient." 

"  I  should  not  wonder,"  replied  Virginia,  with 
a  meaning  which  Jane  did  not  catch.  In  fact, 
she  was  so  anxious  to  impress  Virginia  with  a 
sense  of  her  great  matrimonial  satisfaction  that 
she  lost  sight  of  all  events  not  tending  to  that 
end.  A  joy  so  selfish  and  complaisant  is  a  kind 
of  affront  to  the  sorrowful,  though  Jane  did 
not  intend  it  so.  Virginia  listened  wearily, 
saying  but  little,  and  that  little  having  rather 
an  ethical  than  a  personal  character.  And  in  a 


3^2  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

certain  sense  she  was  glad  when  Jane  went 
away.  Her  babble  of  things  so  far  off  from 
her  drifting  life  was  fatiguing  ;  she  could  not 
catch  hold  of  their  various  intents.  Jane's 
effusiveness  made  her  melancholy  ;  for  her  own 
thoughts  had  been  so  strongly  and  definitely 
fixed  for  many  months  that  she  could  not  com 
pel  their  attention. 

As  they  were  parting,  Jane  was  again  struck 
with  her  old  companion's  visible  weakness,  and 
she  said  once  more,  ''  I  am  afraid  you  are  very 
ill,  Virginia." 

"  I  know  I  am  very  ill,  Jane.  When  we  part 
to-day,  it  may  be  a  final  parting." 

"  And  you  can  take  it  so  calmly  ?  " 

"  I  suffer,  I  assure  you.  Except  in  books, 
few  human  beings  are  able  to  walk  into  the 
grave  with  a  steady  cheerfulness." 

"  Yet  heaven  is  better  than  earth,  Virginia." 

"  Perhaps — we  trust  so — only  its  great  light 
is  as  impenetrable  as  the  grave's  profound  dark 
ness." 

"  Yes." 

"  But,  truly,  amid  all  fears,  there  is  in  the 
soul  a  dauntless  primitive  confidence  in  the 
place  we  call  heaven  ;  nothing  quite  destroys 
it." 

"  I  think  so  too.  When  I  was  in  great 
trouble,  I  thought  a  great  deal  about  heaven 
and  its  perfect  bliss." 

"  Perhaps,  Jane,  things  are   not   so   perfect 


IT  FARED    THUS.  3§$ 

there  as  we  imagine.  Heaven  may  be  only  an 
other  kind  of  life,  with  other  hopes  and  trials, 
and  other  lessons  to  learn.  What  have  any  of 
us  done  to  deserve  perfect  bliss  ?  Can  the 
mere  act  of  death  change  us  so  materially  ? 
All  I  hope  is,  that  '  His  servants  departed  this 
life  in  fear  and  faith  '  may  still  be  His  servants 
in  the  other — the  next  life." 

"  You  must  not  doubt,  Virginia." 

"  It  is  not  doubt,  Jane,  so  much  as  uncer 
tainty — a  sea  of  vague  thought,  tinged  with  the 
moods  of  a  sick  body.  A  word  would  make 
such  a  difference.  Why  does  God  not  give  it  ?" 

Jane  stood  troubled  and  restless,  holding  her 
friend's  hand.  Virginia's  words  were  casting 
somber  shadows  over  her  own  heart  ;  she  went 
away  with  a  kiss  and  a  silent  pressure  of  the 
hand.  Yet  she  could  not  escape  the  influence 
of  her  visit,  and  when  John  Paul  returned  at 
night  she  carried  her  fears  and  reflections  to 
him.  "  I  think  she  is  dying,  father.  I  never 
saw  any  one  so  changed.  Is  it  consump 
tion  ?" 

"  My  dear,  it  is  really  a  broken  heart.  In 
deed,  Jane,  there  is  such  a  death.  I  had  a 
sweet  little  sister  who  went  to  the  grave  in 
that  sad,  silent  way.  Virginia  is  dying  of 
grief.  And  yet  a  word,  if  it  could  be  spoken — 
a  kiss,  if  it  could  be  given — would  cure  her. 
She  was  to  have  been  married  last  April  to 
Captain  Bradford  The  '  Arethusa  '  left  Liver. 


}  M  SHE   LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

pool  some  time  last  March  ;  she  never  reached 
New  York.  No  one  has  met  a  plank  of  her — 
not  a  passenger  or  sailor  has  come  back  with 
the  story  of  her  fate.  She  has  disappeared  with 
all  on  board  as  a  stone  dropped  into  mid-ocean 
might  disappear.  I  met  Major  Mason  to-day ; 
he  too  has  failed.  I  think  he  will  not  long  sur 
vive  his  daughter." 

"  Nearly  a  year  gone,  and  nothing  heard  ?  " 
"  Nearly  a  year — and  utter  silence." 
''Still  I  should  not  give  up  hope." 
"  Nor  I.     A  sailor's  life  is  made  up  of  the  ex 
traordinary  and  the  impossible.     He  may  have 
drifted  to  some  lonely  island,  or  been  picked 
up  by  some  ship  on  a  long  cruise.     But  I  would 
not  suggest  this  hope  to  her,  for,  God  knows, 
any  conclusion  is  better  than  suspense." 

A  little  later  she  told  Nigel.  She  had  said 
to  herself, "  I  will  not  tell  Nigel,  because  it  will 
only  be  a  temptation  to  him  to  rejoice  over 
Virginia  and  Captain  Bradford  ";  but  in  Nigel's 
presence  the  desire  to  please  him  put  down  all 
other  desires.  He  was  sitting  by  her  side,  and 
evidently  revolving  thoughts  that  irritated  him. 
Her  smiles  met  with  no  response  ;  he  said  he 
had  a  headache,  and  could  not  talk.  Self-in 
terest  and  self-pleasure  will  not  be  disciplined  ; 
Nigel  must  be  amused,  must  be  pleased,  at  any 
cost,  and  she  said  : 

"  I  saw  Virginia  Mason  to  day  ;  she  is  dying.  * 
He  looked  up  with  attention,  and  she  con 


IT  FARED    THUS.  385 

tinued  :  "  Captain  Bradford  and  the  '  Are- 
thusa  '  were  lost  a  year  ago." 

Then  he  leaped  to  his  feet,  his  face  alight 
with  pleasure.  "  I  am  very  glad.  Serve  him 
right  !  Serve  him  right !  I  must  send  Joe 
Wilkins  word — upon  my  honor,  a  piece  of  very 
good  news ! " 

"  Virginia  was  to  have  been  married  to  him 
last  April  ;  she  is  breaking  her  heart  about 
his  loss." 

"  Perfect  nonsense !  No  woman,  or  man 
either,  ever  yet  died  of  love." 

"You  are  right,  Nigel.  No  woman  could 
love  better  than  I  love  you  ;  and  yet,  though 
I  was  very  miserable  when  we  were  separated, 
I  did  not  pine  away  and  die." 

"  We  will  not  allude  to  our  separation,  Mrs. 
Forfar,  if  you  please.  It  is  not  a  pleasant  sub 
ject  to  me." 

He  spoke  with  a  sharp  annoyance  and  an 
angry  face,  and  Jane  relapsed  into  silence. 
After  all,  she  had  gained  nothing  by  using  her 
friend's  sorrow  to  spice  her  own  happiness. 
And  her  feeling  of  pity  for  Virginia  turned  to 
one  of  indignant  self-assertion.  What  an  af 
fectation  to  die  for  Captain  Bradford,  as  if  she 
loved  him  better  than  other  women  loved ! 
Nigel  was.  her  husband!  They  had  lived 
together  two  years,  and  married  love  'was 
strongest  of  all.  Yet  she  did  not  affect  death 
as  a  solution  of  their  disagreement.  Virginia's 


3^6  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

condition  was  a  kind  of  reproach  to  herself. 
She  looked  up  again  at  Nigel's  cross  face,  and 
reflected  that  Virginia  had  always  made  trouble 
between  Nigel  and  herself.  She  determined 
to  never  more  name  her  to  him,  and  supersti 
tion  effected  what  loving  kindness  could  not  do. 
Only  to  her  father  she  reiterated  her  opinions, 
and  John  Paul  answered,  a  little  severely  : 

"Jane,  my  girl,  it  is  not  the  same  ;  no,  it  is 
not  at  all  the  same.  Virginia's  lover  is,  in  her 
imagination,  yet  all  perfect.  You  have  found 
out  that  Nigel  Forfar  is  but  a  very  faulty  man. 
You  had  a  great  duty  to  perform  ;  very  well, 
duty  gave  you  some  comfort  for  loss  of  love  ; 
for  no  one  can  save  life  or  liberty,  if  it  be  only 
that  of  a  little  bird  or  a  frightened  animal,  and 
not  feel  that  divine  recompense  in  their  heart. 
You  had  your  little  Paul.  You  had  change, 
travel,  and  my  own  true  father-love  ;  and  I  think 
you  knew,  also,  that  I  had  such  power  over 
Nigel  as  to  bring  him  to  your  feet  when,  you 
thought  he  had  suffered  enough.  Come,  come, 
Virginia  is  a  sorrowful  woman ;  we  will  be 
sorry  with  her — that  is  always  right ;  but  to 
•udge  her,  that  is  God's  part,  Jane,  indeed  it 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

OVERTAKEN. 

''''  And  thou,  who  never  yet  of  human  wrong 
Left  the  unbalanced  scale,  great  Nemesis  ! 

Hear  me,  my  mother  Earth  !  behold  it,  Heaven  ! 

Have  I  not  had  to  wrestle  with  my  lot  ? 

Have  I  not  had  my  brain  seared,  my  heart  riven, 

Hopes  sapped,  name  blighted,  Life's  life  lied  away? 

From  mighty  wrongs  to  petty  perfidy, 

Have  I  not  seen  what  human  things  could  do  ?  " 


1AHE  information  given  by  John  Paul  in  so 
few  sentences  included  a  tragedy  which 
had  darkened  all  Virginia's  life  and  hopes. 
She  had  confidently  expected  Marius  every 
day  during  the  latter  part  of  April  ;  he  had 
promised  her  so  much,  and  she  had  faith  in 
invincible  Love  ;  she  believed  all  things  must 
obey  its  desire.  But  as  April  drew  to  an  end, 
she  grew  first  a  little  vexed  at  her  disappoint 
ment,  then  a  trifle  —  a  very  trifle  —  uneasy.  She 
sewed  less  cheerily,  sang  less  at  her  work,  and 
seemed  to  be  ever  listening.  As  May  pro 
gressed  the  Major  found  it  hard  to  bear  her 
pitiful  look  of  inquiry.  He  haunted  the  wharves 
for  her  sake  ;  he  talked  with  seafaring  men  ;  he 
tried,  when  he  had  lost  all  hope  himself,  to  find 
some  comfort  for  Virginia. 
387 


388  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR, 

But  the  sweet  spring  days  went  inexorably 
past.  Mav  became  June,  June  grew  to  hot 
July,  and  August  brought  into  port  an  unusual 
number  of  ships  and  vessels.  No  one  had 
heard  of,  no  one  had  seen,  the  "Arethusa." 
Her  owners  grew  nervous  at  any  allusion  to 
their  loss.  They  had  accepted  it  as  an  inevi 
table  calamity.  They  had  a  new  ship  in  the 
"  Arethusa's  "  place;  they  preferred  the  public 
to  forget  that  ships  went  to  the  bottom,  or 
were  lost  at  sea  and  never  found  the  harbor 
they  sailed  for.  Then  the  winter  came  again, 
and  every  hour  Hope  and  Virginia  faded 
away. 

The  anguish  of  these  long  days  was  at  first 
passionate  and  strong,  full  of  implorations  and 
restlessness  ;  but  as  her  loss  became  certain,  a 
still,  nervous  despair  took  possession  of  Vir 
ginia,  and  its  wear  and  tear  of  life  was  deep, 
stealthy,  not  to  be  resisted.  She  wasted  in  a 
scarcely  perceptible  manner ;  it  was  only  by 
comparing  her  condition  with  what  it  had  been 
a  month  previously  that  the  change  was  ap 
parent —  the  change  that  was  constantly  go 
ing  on. 

So  the  condition  which  terrified  Jane,  and 
made  her  instantly  think  of  death,  did  not 
strike  those  who  lived  with  Virginia  in  the  same 
way.  The  Major  admitted  that  she  was  fret 
ting,  and  that  she  was  ill  in  consequence:  but 
he  said  to  himself,  "  Time  cures  all  grief.  In  a 


OVERTAKEN'.  389 

year  or  two  she  will  forget."  He  was  hardly 
conscious  that  her  cheeks  had  become  white 
like  wax,  that  her  perfect  figure  had  lost  its 
symmetry,  that  she  was  weak  and  fragile,  that 
her  once  bright  eyes  were  now  nearly  always 
dilated  with  sadness,  as  if  looking  far,  far  off 
into  vacancy,  or  far,  far  down  into  the  depths 
of  the  soul. 

The  presence  of  a  great  and  constant  sorrow 
soon  makes  a  distinctive  atmosphere.  The 
house  was  pervaded  by  melancholy  spiritual 
essences ;  it  was  silent,  as  if  sealed  up  ;  the 
sounds  of  music  and  song  and  laughter  had 
gone  away  from  it.  The  Major  no  longer  talked 
of  politics  and  literature — he  was  watching  his 
only  child  in  the  great  crisis  of  her  life  ;  and  he 
knew  that  Virginia  was  not  one  of  those  women 
who  cry  out  in  grief,  "  Let  me  forget,"  who  re 
quire  to  be  amused,  and  who,  while  fretting  for 
one  idol,  are  on  the  lookout  for  another  to  take 
the  vacated  place.  He  understood  that  she 
must  bear  her  cross  until  it  bore  her ;  that  she 
must  dwell  with  sorrow  until  she  made  of  it  a 
sanctuary  to  dwell  in — a  hard  lesson  for  youth 
to  learn;  for  who,  under  thirty  years  of  age, 
does  not  think,  like  Ajax,  that  they  will  escape 
every  calamity,  in  spite  of  the  gods? — easier 
for  the  aging  and  weary,  for  they  stretch  out 
arms  to  Him  who  is  everywhere  willing  and 
able  to  help  and  to  shelter. 

Virginia  made  a  great  impression  upon  Jane, 


39°  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

though  she  did  not  visit  her  again.  She  could 
not  help  wondering,  as  she  went  about  her 
shopping  and  visiting,  how  it  felt  to  be  quiet  in 
that  silent  house,  sitting  in  the  shadow  of  a 
great  sorrow — perchance  in  the  shadow  of  the 
valley  of  death.  In  her  troubles,  Jane  had 
always  known  the  strength  of  resistance.  The 
possibility  of  conquering  them,  or  escaping 
from  them,  was  her  first  thought.  But  Virginia 
could  not  fight  a  loss  so  intangible  and  vague. 
There  was  no  one  to  oppose,  no  right  to  assert ; 
she  could  only  sit  still,  and  try  to  grow  strong 
through  suffering. 

And  in  her  new-found  happiness  Jane  could 
not  bear  to  go  again  into  an  atmosphere  so 
depressing  and  so  ominous.  She  wrote  Vir 
ginia  an  affectionate  letter  before  leaving  New 
York,  and  Virginia  was  vaguely  pleased  by  its 
tone  of  love  and  sympathy,  and  sent  Jane  in 
return  a  note  full  of  good  wishes,  and  a  gold 
bracelet  that  she  had  always  admired. 

Nigel  looked  grimly  at  the  present.  "  It  is 
worth  five  hundred  dollars,"  he  said.  "  The 
girl  must  be  dying,  or  she  would  not  have  given 
it  away." 

In  the  beginning  of  February  Nigel  and  Jane 
went  South  again.  John  Paul  had  a  long  talk 
with  Nigel  previous  to  the  movement,  and  the 
father,  with  the  sad  intelligence  of  age,  tried  to 
buy  for  his  daughter  her  husband's  considera 
tion.  He  did  this  so  generously  that,  for  some 


OVERTAKEN.  39 l 

time,  Nigel  was  influenced  by  the  gift,  and  by 
the  larger  promises  which  it  included. 

But,  after  all,  he  was  a  man  who  saw  every 
thing  through  the  eyes  of  others,  and  the 
approbation  of  the  set  in  which  he  lived  was  to 
him  all  that  ambition  of  a  loftier  kind  is  to 
nobler  men.  He  was  compelled  to  admit  that 
he  had  left  Memphis  in  a  sort  of  disgrace.  His 
friendship  with  Miss  Paget  had  been  gravely 
questioned  ;  and  many  asserted  that  its  equivo 
cal  character  had  driven  his  wife  away  from 
him.  And  he  found  it  impossible  to  discuss 
this  subject ;  men  declined  to  listen  to  his  ex 
planations,  and  he  could  not  make  them  to 
women.  On  the  contrary,  acquaintances  of 
the  Pagets  declared  that  Jane's  abolition  ten 
dencies  had  caused  all  the  trouble.  There 
was  even  a  whisper  accusing  Jane  of  running 
off  four  slaves ;  but  this  charge  was  generally 
conceded  to  be  too  abominable  for  belief. 
Nigel  also  denied  it. 

"  My  father  gave  the  two  boys  their  educa 
tion  and  freedom,"  he  said,  angrily.  "  I  gave 
the  girls  to  my  wife  ;  she  had  a  perfect  right  to 
take  them  North,  if  she  wished."  But  Joe 
Wilkins  and  Foster  had  spoken,  however 
guardedly,  and  it  wras  well  known  that  Nigel 
and  his  overseer  had  quarreled  furiously 
on  Nigel's  return  from  New  Orleans,  and 
that  Mr.  Clay  had  said  many  things  about 
Nigel  and  Nigel's  household  which  men  gen- 


392  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

erally  believed,  though  they  were  not  dis. 
cussed. 

Under  these  circumstances  Nigel  was  par 
ticularly  anxious  concerning  the  manner  in 
which  Jane  would  be  received  on  her  return. 
If  the  Wards  and  the  Greens,  the  Blands  and 
the  Seftons,  called  to  welcome  her,  he  felt  that 
it  would  be  possible  to  overlook  all  her  folly ; 
for  he  could  remind  himself  that  John  Paul 
had  paid  most  liberally  forthe  four  slaves  Jane 
had  taken  away  from  him.  As  for  their  per 
sonal  disputes,  he  was  not  very  averse  to  them. 
Anything  was  better  than  the  apathetic  indif 
ference  he  had  witnessed  in  so  many  homes, 
where  the  husband  and  wife  never  consulted 
each  other,  never  went  out  together,  never  had 
the  same  friends  or  enemies,  and  never  had  any 
personal  quarrels.  Jane's  flashing  eyes  and 
resolute  little  face  was  a  piquant  provocative ; 
a  dispute  with  her  was  something  very  like  a 
domestic  drama. 

On  the  journey  he  was  fairly  attentive — he 
did  not  know  then  how  things  might  turn  out ; 
the  child  troubled  him  a  little,  but  he  made  an 
act  of  good-nature  in  tolerating  the  natural 
noise  of  the  human  animal.  "  You  know  you 
were  once  a  baby,  Nigel,  and  I  daresay  made 
just  as  much  noise  as  little  Paul,"  said  Jane, 
and  Nigel  rather  indignantly  denied  the  sup 
position.  "  I  was  never  so  ridiculously  petted. 
An  old  negro  nurse  took  me  in  charge,  and  I 


OVERTAKEN.  393 

was  fed,  and  washed,  and  taken  out,  and  put  to 
sleep,  and  nobody  in  the  house  was  annoyed 
by  me." 

"  Annoyed,  Nigel  ?  " 

"  All  babies  are  annoying." 

Jane  was  silent  a  few  moments,  then  she 
said  :  "  I  shall  want  a  nurse  when  we  get 
home." 

No  answer.     Nigel  was  thinking  of  Palma. 

"  Mr.  Clay  spoke  to  me  once  about  a  girl  of 
Squire  Eland's,  who 

"  Mr.  Clay  will  interfere  no  more  in  my 
affairs.  I  have  discharged  him." 

"  Oh,  Nigel,  he  was  so  gentlemanly  !  " 

"  Gentlemanly  !  a  nigger-driver  !  " 

"  He  was  kind  and  considerate,  if  he  was  a 
nigger-driver." 

"  Jane,  if  you  will  force  me  to  talk  on  un 
pleasant  subjects,  you  must  take  the  conse 
quences.  Mr.  Clay  told  me  when  I  came  home 
that  he  knew  you  were  running  away  from  me, 
and  was  glad  of  it-  -that  he  helped  you  all  he 
could,  and  would  nave  loaned  you  money  if 
you  had  needed  it.  Indeed,  he  said  so  many 
insolent  things  that  I  should  have  challenged 
him — had  he  been  a  gentleman." 

There  was  a  long  silence  after  this  confi 
dence  ;  but  the  question  of  a  nurse  naturally 
came  up  for  settlement  as  soon  as  they  arrived 
at  home.  "Only  one  woman  in  the  house  is 
available,"  said  Nigel  ;  "  a  strange  hand  whom 


394  SHE   LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

I  took  for  a  debt  against  the  Paget  estate." 
He  rang  the  bell  as  he  spoke,  and  ordered 
Lucinda  to  be  sent  for.  A  feeling  of  rebellion 
rose  in  Jane's  heart  at  the  summary  treatment 
of  so  important  a  question  as  Paul's  constant 
attendant ;  and  she  was  assuring  herself 
that  she  would  not  accept  any  woman  she 
did  not  instinctively  trust,  when  Lucinda  en 
tered. 

The  eyes  of  the  mother  and  the  slave  met. 
Jane  knew  her  instantly.  It  was  the  woman 
who  had  brought  back  the  borrowed  linen,  and 
at  her  order  flung  it  upon  the  blazing  cedar 
logs.  There  was  a  bond  of  sympathy  already 
between  them.  Jane  accepted  her  with  no 
special  reservations.  Lucinda  also  appeared  to 
be  pleased  with  her  charge.  She  was  a  large 
woman,  with  a  broad,  inscrutable  face,  not 
garrulous  nor  inclined  to  laughter,  but  walking 
about  the  room  with  the  child  on  her  arm 
hours  at  a  time,  and  apparently  unconscious  of 
its  weight. 

"  Sit  down,  Lucinda  ;  you  must  be  tired." 
"  I  am  never  tired,  Miss  Jane." 
"  But  Master  Paul  is  heavy." 
"  Li^ht  as  a  feather  to  Lucinda." 
Such  conversations  were  frequent,  but  Jane 
found   it  hard  to  get  any  closer  to  her  nurse. 
Lucinda  believed  not  in  any  man,  no,  nor  wo 
man  either.     Jane  was  disappointed  ;  she  had 
hoped  to  find  in  Lucinda  a  ready  helper.     Hef 


OVERTAKEN.  395 

chort  ejaculation  above  the  burning  linen  had 
shown  her  to  be  religious,  but  when  Jane  spoke 
to  her  about  God,  Lucinda  listened  as  an  Israel- 
itish  woman  might  have  listened  to  a  daughter 
of  Pharaoh  praising  Jehovah.  In  fact,  the  dis 
couragements  which  assailed  Jane  on  every 
hand  were  enough  to  daunt  the  most  enthu 
siastic  evangelist. 

In  the  first  place,  her  return  had  been  marked 
by  a  most  flattering  social  reception.  Every 
family  of  any  standing  had  called  to  welcome 
her.  She  was  consulted  about  the  fashions, 
and  asked  to  show  her  pretty  costumes,  and 
even  allow  them  to  be  copied.  And  it  gave 
her  pleasure  to  grant  all  such  requests.  She 
had  taken  some  singing  lessons  in  Paris,  and  she 
not  only  loaned  her  music,  but  gave  many  of 
the  young  girls  valuable  aid  in  its  study,  and 
for  a  time  Mrs.  Forfar  was  a  very  happy  woman 
indeed. 

But  this  social  falat,  while  it  greatly  flattered 
Nigel,  absorbed  much  of  Jane's  time.  The 
morning  calls  and  evening  receptions,  the  de 
mands  of  the  church  and  the  world,  left  her  lit 
tle  leisure  for  the  care  of  her  house,  and  still 
less  for  any  communion  with  her  own  soul. 
She  found  also  that  any  attempt  to  re-open 
with  Nigel  the  subject  of  improving  the  condi 
tion  of  their  slaves  was  abortive.  He  threw 
cold  water  on  all  of  her  proposals,  either  by  a 
total  want  of  interest  in  them  or  a  totrl  dis- 


396  SHE  LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

belief  in  their  efficacy.  Sometimes,  indeed,  he 
positively  opposed  her  wishes. 

She  found  also  a  singular  reluctance  to  her 
interference  among  the  slaves  themselves. 
Her  advice  and  help  about  their  homes — which 
was  the  first  direction  her  efforts  took — was 
coldly,  not  to  say  sullenly,  met.  The  condition 
of  their  poor  little  cabins  was  just  the  one  thing 
left  in  their  own  discretion — the  only  point  at 
which  they  touched  freedom.  And  they  did 
not  like  Miss  Jane's  visits  and  suggestions, 
even  where  the  suggestions  were  made  possible 
by  her  gifts  and  help.  Alas,  Jane  did  not  con 
sider  the  hopelessness  of  heart  with  which  she 
had  to  deal  !  These  poor  women  asked  them 
selves  why  they  should  spend  their  resting 
hours  in  beautifying  homes  that  were  in 
no  sense  their  own.  To  day  they  might 
put  them  in  order ;  to-morrow  they  might  be 
hired  out,  or  sold  away,  and  another  woman 
enjoy,  or  destroy,  the  work  of  their  weary 
hands. 

Thus,  in  some  way  or  other,  all  her  efforts 
were  negatived,  either  by  conditions  of  the 
people  impossible  for  her  to  change,  or  by  con 
ditions  of  her  own  life  equally  imperative.  Ni 
gel  did  nothing  to  help  her ;  he  quietly  did 
much  to  embarrass  her.  Nobody  believed  in 
her,  and  those  for  whose  sake  she  denied  her 
self  some  pleasures,  and  risked  many  hours  of 
marital  disputing,  were  most  of  all  indifferent 


OVERTAKEN.  397 

— were  even  unjust  in  their  judgment  of  her  at 
tempts,  and  ungrateful  for  them. 

Then  the  hot,  languid  weather  returned.  She 
was  physically  sick  ;  she  had  no  heart  to  per 
severe  ;  all  her  little  plans  were  abandoned  ; 
and  she  felt  a  sentiment  of  anger,  mingled  with 
contempt,  for  men  and  women  so  hard  to  in 
fluence,  so  ready  to  accept  wrongs  she  would 
have  fought  against,  even  unto  death.  Poor 
Jane  !  she  was  trying  to  work  a  miracle  with 
out  omnipotent  power.  And  every  day  she 
was  losing  a  little  of  that  artificial  power  which 
her  own  willing  return  and  her  father's 
generosity  had  temporarily  given  her.  Life 
settled  back  to  its  monotonous  duties  and 
commonplace  claims ;  and  Nigel  reverted 
to  his  natural  selfishness  and  irritability. 
Plans,  ideas,  feelings  conflicting  with  his  plans, 
ideas,  feelings,  were  no  longer  tolerated,  or 
even  met  with  argument.  He  angrily  ignored 
all  resolutions  of  reform  ;  "  they  were,"  he  said, 
"  merely  like  the  unreasonable  promises  made 
to  a  sick  child." 

"You  have  been  crying  for  the  moon,  Jane, 
and  in  order  to  pacify  your  clamorings,  I  pro- 
mised  you  the  moon.  You  ought  to  have 
known,  when  I  promised  you  impossible  things, 
that  I  never  meant  to — that  I  never  could — 
perform  my  promises.  Can  the  Ethiopian 
change  his  skin  ?  "  he  asked,  with  that  provok 
ing  air  of  infallibility  a  text  gives  to  an  un- 


39^  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

reasonable  arguer.  "  Can  you  help  those  who 
will  not  be  helped  ?  Let  the  slaves  alone  ; 
they  are  well  enough  satisfied." 

The  violation  of  this  promise  indicated  the 
violation  of  others  more  personal.  At  the 
bottom  of  his  heart,  Nigel  had  never  forgiven 
his  wife  the  scorn,  the  contempt,  and  the  hu 
miliating  gossip  which  he  had  been  compelled 
to  endure  when  she  left  him.  He  felt  that  no 
one  thoroughly  believed  the  explanation  Jane 
and  he  had  agreed  to  make.  For  the  public  is 
a  good  diviner,  and,  when  all  protestations 
are  over,  quietly  returns  to — hints,  insinuate^ 
looks — its  primitive  belief. 

He  found  himself  daily  more  unpopular  , 
daily  treated  with  more  formal  respect  and  less- 
kindly  familiarity  ;  and  he  visited  every  such 
snub  upon  his  wife  and  child.  For  he  was  not 
long  in  discovering  that  he  could  hurt  Jane 
twice  over  through  her  mother-love.  And  so 
evil  and  dreadful  a  thing  was  this  perversion  of 
what  was  holy  to  sinful  uses,  that  he  began 
also  to  dislike  the  innocent  child  who  was  his 
innocent  tool.  He  pretended  to  think  him  a 
trouble  ;  he  ordered  him  out  of  his  presence 
with  a  sharp  word,  and  very  soon  Paul  hid 
himself  in  his  mother's  arms  when  he  heard 
his  father's  voice,  and  answered  even  his  invi 
tations  to  "  come  to  him  "  with  sobbing  terror. 
And  then  the  child's  fear  brought  anger  and 
dislike.  Though  he  was  not  three  years  old, 


OVERTAKEN.  399 

Nigel  began  to  discipline  the  baby  ;  to  teach 
him  obedience  and  good  manners  ;  in  short,  to 
torture  Jane  through  the  torture  of  her  irre 
sponsible  child. 

The  hot,  dry,  windy  weather  intensified  all 
these  elements  of  domestic  discord.  Jane  was 
prostrate  through  the  long,  terribly  sunny 
days ;  nothing  but  Paul's  crying  or  complain 
ing  could  rouse  her  from  the  apathy  of  suffering 
which  invaded  her  soul.  She  was  in  that 
languid  state  when  all  the  wheels  of  life  run 
slow  ;  the  intense  green  of  the  foliage  oppressed 
and  made  her  melancholy.  The  white,  lonely 
cabins  and  the  hopeless  men  and  women  trail 
ing  off  from  them  in  the  morning  and  coming 
back  to  them  at  night,  silent  and  weary,  with 
out  any  sense  of  home  to  come  to,  made  her 
wring  her  hands  in  despairing  pity.  She  knew, 
when  she  saw  Nigel  sauntering  down  to  the 
quarters  in  the  gloom  of  the  coming  night,  that 
he  was  going  to  meet  the  overseer  and  hear 
his  report.  Not  infrequently  long,  piercing 
cries  came  rushing  through  the  shadows  and 
filled  her  ears  with  aching  sound,  and  threw 
her  upon  her  knees  in  a  passion  of  self-justifi 
cation  before  God.  "  Father  in  heaven,  I  can 
not  help  it  !  If  thou  interfere  not,  what  can  I 
do?"  After  such  experiences  it  was  hard  to 
meet  Nigel,  hard  to  smile  at  him,  hard  to  love 
him.  She  drew  away  silent,  constrained,  meas 
uring  in  her  conscience  his  share  of  the  guilt 


4°o  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

So  the  hot  summer  passed  wearily  away 
Most  of  Jane's  acquaintances  went  to  the 
"  Springs."  Nigel  said  they  had  been  suffi 
ciently  from  home,  and  Jane  preferred  New 
York  when  a  change  was  possible.  She  was 
already  dreaming  of  and  planning  for  a  visit 
there.  "  Nigel  was  so  much  better  and  kinder 
in  New  York  " — the  poor  wife  yet  believed  his 
faults  to  be  bred  in  him  by  his  surroundings; 
if  she  could  once  more  induce  him  to  go  North 
with  her,  she  was  determined  to  join  her  father 
in  any  plan  likely  to  keep  him  there. 

But  these  fretful,  languid,  unhappy  days 
were  not  fruitless  ones ;  in  them,  more  than 
ever,  Jane  turned  her  thoughts  to  God — the 
only  refuge  for  women  who  have  loved  un 
worthy  men.  She  had  also  a  brave  soul,  a 
thing  which  all  things  serve  ;  she  was  far  from 
being  that  vanquished  character  who  has  given 
up  fighting  for  happiness,  who  is  miserable 
herself  and  makes  all  others  miserable  who 
approach  her.  Whenever  Nigel  was  in  a  mood 
to  begin  the  day  cheerfully,  she  was  instantly 
ready  to  meet  his  mood.  She  had  learned  to 
keep  the  child  out  of  his  sight,  to  avoid  con 
versation  likely  to  irritate  him,  to  say  pleasant 
and  complimentary  things — in  short,  to  prac 
tice  all  the  small  domestic  deceptions  which 
good  wives  learn,  which  are,  indeed,  a  species 
of  virtue,  being  the  atmosphere  making  the 
existence  of  more  real  virtues  possible. 


O  VER  TA  KEN.  40 1 

And  Nigel  was  yet  occasionally  sensitive  to 
this  heavenly  tolerance.  He  understood  the 
love  which  made  it  possible  to  a  woman  of 
Jane's  quick  temper,  and  sometimes  it  com 
pelled  him  to  assume  a  similar  disposition. 
Why  not?  It  is  said  that  all  who  look  upon 
the  Apollo  involuntarily  erect  themselves  and 
put  on  a  more  dignified  air  ;  certainly,  then, 
the  gentleness  of  a  good  woman  should  have 
the  same  effect  upon  the  soul.  One  thing  is 
certain:  gloomy,  cross  thoughts  affect  our  sur 
roundings  as  rain  affects  the  atmosphere;  will 
not  kind  and  sunny  ones  have  an  equal  power? 

Toward  the  end  of  October  Jane  came 
down  to  breakfast  one  morning,  and  found  a 
note  from  Mrs.  Bland,  asking  her  to  spend  the 
day  with  her.  "  Of  course  you  must  go,"  said 
Nigel,  with  a  sullen  air.  "  She  is  just  home 
from  the  '  Springs,'  and  wants  to  boast  herself 
to  you.  Let  her.  Colonel  Bland  has  been 
very  distant  to  me  lately;  try,  for  once,  and 
say  a  good  word  for  your  husband." 

"  Do  you  think,  Nigel,  I  ever  say  a  bad  word 
about  you  ?  " 

"  Women  whimper,  as  a  general  rule,  when 
they  are  together.  Leave  Paul  at  home." 

"  I  must  take  Paul  with  me.  I  do  not  trust 
Lucinda.  She  hates  all  white  people  alike,  I 
think." 

"  Pshaw  !  you  might  trust  me,  however." 

The    tone    of    the    remark    touched    Jane. 


402  SHE  LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

Perhaps  she  ought  to  answer  the  longing  in  it. 
She  would  be  miserable,  but  it  might  bring 
father  and  son  closer  together.  In  a  moment 
such  a  thought  flashed  through  her  mind  ;  in 
the  next  she  answered,  "  Indeed,  Nigel,  I  shall 
be  very  happy  to  leave  Paul  in  your  care. 
Please  keep  Lucinda  in  sight." 

"  Have  no  fear.  Paul  and  I  will  soon  make 
up  all  our  old  quarrels." 

"And  have  no  new  ones,  Nigel  dear?"  and 
she  rose  with  the  question,  and  looked  at  him 
with  eyes  so  blue  and  tender  that  he  felt  him 
self  the  unkindness  of  refusing  the  kiss  they  so 
certainly  asked. 

The  day  was  not  a  pleasant  one  for  visiting, 
and  Jane  was  physically  very  unfit  for  the  con 
straint  and  strain  of  so  many  hours  with  a 
woman  whom  she  felt  bound  to  please  and  en 
tertain.  They  talked  over  the  company  at  the 
"  White  Sulphur,"  the  dresses  and  flirtations 
and  probable  results.  They  talked  of  their 
mutual  friends  who  had  remained  at  home,  of 
their  financial  embarrassments,  and  the  negroes 
likely  to  change  hands. 

"The  Colonel  does  not  think  your  husband 
got  the  value  of  his  claim  upon  the  Paget  estate 
in  Lucinda.  She  is  a  peculiar  woman,  likely 
to  lose  her  head  again.  I  hear  she  is  your 
nurse." 

Jane  was  instantly  sick  with  terror.  "  Has 
she  been  insane  ?  " 


0  VER  TA  KEN. 

"  Oh,  yes ;  I  think  that  circumstance  is 
generally  known." 

"  I  must  go  home  now.  I  really  must.  I 
cannot  be  easy  any  longer,  knowing  this  of 
Lucinda." 

"The  Colonel  thought  I  ought  to  tell  you — 
when  we  heard  she  was  your  nurse." 

"  Thank  you  ;  but  you  should  have  told  me 
when  I  first  came." 

"  Perhaps  I  should — it  is  difficult  to  inter 
fere." 

They  were  going  up-stairs  together,  and  it 
struck  Jane  there  was  something  else  Mrs. 
Bland  wished  to  say,  but  she  was  in  a  hurry, 
and  only  anxious  that  nothing  might  delay  her. 
However,  at  the  last  moment,  Mrs.  Bland,  with 
a  marked  consciousness,  said,  "  Mrs.  Forfar, 
you  might  incidentally  name  to  your  husband 
that  Madame  Lenoir  is  on  a  visit  to  her  mother, 
and  that  she  has  brought  Tatelle  with  her.  I 
think  he  ought  to  be  aware  of  her  presence." 

"Tatelle?" 

"  I  would  not  name  the  circumstance  if  you 
did  not  already  know — the  mother  of  Palma 
and  July." 

"  Yes,  I  know,  I  know.  Great  God !  how 
could  he  meet  her?" 

"  The  Colonel  said  I  had  better  tell  you — 
such  subjects  ought  not  to  be  opened ;  so 
many  are  now  looking  for  precisely  cases  like 
that— very  unjust,  but  it  is  so.  You  see,  my 


4°4  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

dear,  in  all  societies  there  are  household  tra. 
gedies  it  does  no  good  to  reopen." 

Jane  comprehended  little  of  the  suave  re 
grets  and  apologies  Mrs.  Bland  kept  murmur 
ing  at  her  side.  She  felt,  however,  the  mingled 
kindness  and  selfishness  of  the  information 
given ;  but  more  pressing  than  any  other 
thought  was  the  fact  of  Luanda's  mental  con 
dition,  and  the  supposition  that  Nigel  was 
aware  of  it  even  when  he  proposed  her  as 
nurse  for  his  child. 

"  That  is  one  of  the  evils  of  slavery,"  she 
muttered  bitterly.  ''They  think  these  poor 
creatures  know  neither  love  nor  hate,  gratitude 
nor  revenge." 

The  night  was  really  cold;  the  fog  hid 
everything  ;  there  was  a  sense  of  death  and 
decay  in  the  air — a  mournful  stillness  that 
made  Jane  long  to  shriek  aloud.  It  was  one  of 
those  hours  when  the  most  trifling  anxiety 
takes  the  form  of  a  calamity:  and  Jane's  fears 
were  by  no  means  trifling.  As  the  carriage 
lumbered  along  the  desolate  lane,  the  tall 
brown  weeds  in  the  wan,  misty  light  terrified 
her.  She  spoke  to  the  coachman,  and  he,  not 
catching  her  words,  only  answered  with  a  grin, 
running  from  ear  to  ear ;  and  the  bogie  laugh 
ter  was  but  a  part  of  the  whole  miserable, 
gloomy,  dreamlike  hurry.  She  asked  herself 
wildly,  "Am  I  sleeping?  Shall  I  ever  get 
home  to  my  little  Paul  ?  Is  the  man  taking 


O  VER  TA  KEN.  4°5 

the  right  way?  "  At  length  she  saw  the  house, 
gleaming  white  and  ghostlike  through  the 
damp  and  drifting  fog.  Lucinda  came  to  the 
door  to  meet  her. 

"Where  is  Master  Paul?"  she  asked 
angrily. 

"  Done  gone  wid  Massa  Nigel.  Massa  done 
took  him  from  me  'most  two  hours  past." 

Jane  did  not  believe  the  woman,  and  Lu 
cinda  divined  her  fear,  and  silently  mocked 
her  as  she  watched  her  miserable,  hurried 
glance  into  the  nursery,  into  her  own  room, 
into  the  parlor.  She  knew  what  Jane  was 
thinking  and  fearing,  and  felt  a  fierce  regret 
that  was  almost  murder  in  her  heart. 

"Where  is  Master  Nigel?"  and  she  turned 
on  the  woman  with  something  in  her  face  that 
mastered  her. 

"  Dunno,  Miss  Jane.  He  went  down  by  de 
quarters." 

Jane  instantly  followed  the  road  her  hus 
band  had  taken,  followed  him  quite  to  the 
dreadful  pen,  into  which  she  had  once  before 
intruded.  There  was  a  deathly  stillness  until 
she  crossed  the  threshold.  Nigel  and  the 
overseer  stood  silently  together  looking  over  a 
work-book,  and  little  Paul  sat  on  the  table, 
watching  with  wide-open  eyes  a  young  man 
crouching  and  sobbing  in  a  corner.  The  rude 
horn  lantern  was  by  his  side,  and  his  baby 
hands  were  doubled  up  tight  upon  his  knees: 


406  SHE  LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

he  was  evidently  under  a  great  terror,  or  else 
paralyzed  with  shock  and  pity  for  what  he  had 
witnessed. 

Jane  lifted  him  in  her  arms,  though  she  was 
very  unable  to  bear  the  burden,  and  went 
tottering  and  stumbling  in  a  frenzied  haste  to 
the  house.  Any  mother  may  imagine  the 
scene  that  followed.  vVhen  Nigel  appeared, 
Jane  faced  him  with  the  just  indignation  of  a 
mother  who  feels  that  her  child  has  been  will 
fully  brutalized.  Nigel  at  first  attempted  to  ex 
cuse  himself;  he  had  not  intended  taking  Paul 
into  the  calaboose ;  it  was  an  accident.  But 
when  he  saw  that  Jane  would  accept  no  excuse, 
he  asserted  his  right  to  take  the  child  wherever 
he  desired.  He  grew  insanely  passionate,  and 
vowed  he  would  have  no  squeamish  boys 
brought  up  under  his  name.  "  He  shall  learn 
not  only  to  see  the  idle  punished,  but  to  punish 
them  himself.  I  shall  take  him  into  Memphis 
with  me.  He  shall  go  wherever  I  go,  and  do 
whatever  I  do.  Mind,  I  am  going  to  make  a 
Southern  gentleman  of  him." 

Indeed,  Nigel  lost  all  control  over  himself; 
the  whole  household  were  witnesses  to  his 
passion,  and  Jane  was  not  able  to  stand  before 
it.  And,  strange  as  it  may  seem,  Nigel  had 
the  general  sympathy;  for  the  inner  man. 
when  he  takes  control — be  it  for  good  or  evil 
—is  the  conqueror.  The  human  animal  respects 
force,  and  that  night  Nigel  absolutely  domi- 


OVERTAKEN.  4°  7 

nated  the  trembling  slaves  around  him.  They 
admired  his  temper,  they  eagerly  sought  to 
pacify  him;  and  neither  men  nor  women,  as 
they  whispered  together  in  the  dark  kitchen, 
had  a  word  of  respect  for  Jane. 

"Miss  Jane  powerful  stirrin'  temper." 
"  Massa  doin'  no  harm  to  de  boy." 
"  Massa's  own  chile." 

"  Hi!  Miss  Jane  find  her  massa  to-night." 
Of  such  tenor  were  the  comments  as  the 
house  gradually  settled  into  that  strange  quiet 
which  follows  a  domestic  storm.  The  servants 
stole  off  to  their  beds,  and  the  candles  were  put 
out  in  every  room  but  two,  one  up-stairs,  where 
Jane  sat  with  clasped  hands  thinking,  thinking, 
thinking,  trying  to  find  out  what  she  ought  to 
do  ;  grieving  most  of  all  because  she  had  been 
told  that  night  that  she  was  an  unloved  wife 
—that  Nigel  regretted  that  he  had  married  her 
— that  he  longed  to  be  free.  She  feared,  she 
trembled  at  the  visions  her  own  imagination 
evoked  when  she  thought  of  these  bitter 
truths,  forced  by  passion  into  a  too  late1  speech. 
Nigel  had  a  satisfaction  in  having  at  length 
voiced  them.  At  any  rate,  there  would  no 
longer  be  any  necessity  for  an  affectation  of 
affection.  If  Jane  did  not  like  the  new  era  he 
was  resolved  to  inaugurate,  she  could  go  back 
to  her  father.  He  was  weary  of  being  obligated 
to  the  old  Dutchman.  Nigel  felt  his  favors  to 
be  chains  around  his  hands  and  feet.  He 


4°8  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

would  shake  them  off.  Then  he  began  to  think 
of  his  debts,  of  his  poverty,  of  Texas.  Why 
not  go  there?  Go  alone.  His  wife's  father 
really  owned  all  he  had — let  him  take  it — and 
take  his  daughter  also.  He  could  get  an  ad 
vance  from  his  factor,  and  in  Western  Texas 
live  the  life  he  longed  for,  that  Harry  enjoyed 
so  thoroughly.  He  fancied  he  had  a  capacity 
for  an  open-air,  hard-riding,  hard-fighting  camp 
life  ;  he,  who  delighted  in  cutting  his  days  and 
his  employments,  his  dress  and  even  his  amuse 
ments,  to  the  conventional  pattern  ! 

For  there  are  certain  moods  in  which  we  be 
come  disgusted  with  ourselves,  lay  the  blame 
of  our  actions  upon  our  circumstances,  and 
imagine  in  escaping  from  them  we  shall  also 
escape  from  the  hateful  self  we  have  got  a 
glimpse  of.  At  this  hour  Nigel  Forfarwas  ex 
periencing  such  a  revulsion  against  all  that  he 
had  hitherto  valued  and  observed.  He  was 
mentally  spurning  every  domestic  tie  and  every 
social  demand.  He  was  dreaming  of  an  existence 
of  joyful  freedom  in  a  heavenly  climate.  And 
in  order  to  fully  enjoy  and  follow  out  his  dream 
to  a  practical  conclusion,  he  lit  another  cigar 
and  lay  down  upon  a  couch  to  smoke  it. 

He  knew  not  that,  from  a  dark  angle  of  the 
piazza.,  the  woman  called  Tatelle  stood  watch 
ing  him  with  the  hate  of  a  wronged  woman  and 
the  fury  of  a  robbed  mother  in  her  heart. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

FORFAR   PAYS   ALL   DEBTS. 
"  But  they  that  sin  are  enemies  to  their  own  life."  —  [Tobit 

Xii.    10.] 

"  For  the  Lord  knoweth  all  them  that  sin  against  him,  and 
therefore  delivereth  he  them  unto  death  and  destruction."  —  [2 
Esdras  xv.  26.] 

"  For  the  destiny  of  which  they  were  worthy,  drew  them 
unto  this  end."  —  [Wisdom  of  Solomon  xix.  4.] 


had  followed  Jane   from    Mem- 
I     phis  to  the  Forfar  place,  most  of  the  way 
sitting  on  the   flat  board  at  the  back  of  the 
carriage,  and  perhaps,  if  such  cause  and  effect 
were  well  understood,  she  had  been  a  sufficient 
reason  for  the  mental  terrors  which  assailed  the 
unhappy   wife   and    mother.     She  slipped   off 
before  the  gates  were  passed,  and  took  her  way 
by    a    devious    course    to    the    quarters.      She 
visited  only  one  woman,  an  aged  negress,  who 
recognized  her  step  and  voice  in   an    instant, 
and  answered  it  with  a  soft,  glad  whisper  of: 
"  Tatelle  !     Sistah  Tateiile  !  " 
The  conference    that   followed    was  one  to 
drive  the  mother  frantic.     She  heard  all  the 
story  of  July's  sufferings,  of   the  journey  of 
Wilkins  to  New  York  for  her  sons,  and  she 
fully  concurred   with  old   Celia  in  the  belief 
409 


410  SHE  LOVED   A    SA1LOK. 

that  they  had  really  been  brought  back  to  Ne\v 
Orleans  and  sold.  The  story  of  their  escape 
was  a  made-up  story  to  cover  the  blackness  of 
the  crime.  As  to  the  freeing  of  Palma  and 
July,  the  idea  was  scouted  by  both.  "The 
white  woman  took  them  to  New  Orleans  and 
no  further,"  said  the  enraged  mother.  "  Liver 
pool  !  England  !  Ah,  they  put  them  far 
enough  away  to  prevent  any  one  finding  out." 

In  such  bitter  conversation  the  two  women 
Sat  crouching  in  the  dark  cabin.  They  forgot 
there  was  neither  light  nor  fire  ;  they  did  not 
know  that  the  fog  had  changed  to  a  soft,  soak 
ing,  dismal  rain  ;  their  hearts  were  burning 
with  unpardonable  wrong ;  they  were  in  a 
fever  of  contemplated  vengeance  ;  they  talked 
softer  and  softer,  in  sentences  broken  in  two  or 
finished  in  mysterious  passes  over  the  face  or 
in  touching  of  the  hands. 

When  Tatelle  left  Celia's  cabin,  all  was  quiet 
in  the  big  house  ;  all  was  dark  save  in  the  rooms 
where  Jane  watched  and  feared  in  miserable 
anticipation  of  a  woman's  greatest  trial,  and  in 
the  parlor  where  Nigel  lay  planning  his  new 
and  perfectly  happy  future.  Tatelle  hated 
Jane,  and  she  felt  an  angry  impulse  urging  her 
to  settle  with  Jane  first.  She  believed  that 
Jane  had  been  as  deeply  involved  in  the  sale  of 
her  daughters  as  Nigel  was,  though  she  admitted 
with  Celia  that  she  had  been  forced  by  fear  of 
Nigel  to  bring  the  girls  to  New  Orleans;  but 


FORFAR  PAYS  ALL   DEBTS.  4«i 

that  consideration  only  added  contempt  to 
her  hate. 

She  knew  the  house  and  the  ways  of  the 
house  ;  even  if  the  doors  had  been  locked, 
access  would  have  been  easy  to  her.  But  the 
doors  were  seldom  locked  so  early,  and  a 
movement  of  the  handle  in  passing  showed  her 
the  way  was  without  obstruction.  She  stood 
some  time  on  the  piazza,  feeding  her  hate  and 
her  longing  for  vengeance  with  the  sight  of  the 
man  who  had  so  foully  wronged  her.  He  lay 
at  full  length  upon  the  sofa,  with  his  hands 
clasped  above  his  head.  He  had  thrown  off 
his  black  broadcloth  coat,  and  his  black  velvet 
vest  was  unbuttoned.  A  candle  burned  on  the 
side-board,  but  the  main  light  of  the  room 
came  from  the  large  wood  fire  to  which  fresh 
logs  had  been  recently  added.  She  knew  Nigel 
well  enough  to  be  sure  that  as  soon  as  his  cigar 
was  out  he  would  gradually  cease  thinking  and 
fall  asleep.  She  waited  patiently ;  she  felt  the 
hate  in  her  heart  gathering  strength  with  every 
moment.  It  was  sending  into  her  arms  and 
hands  invincible  power,  and  she  stretched  them 
out  in  the  dark,  rainy  atmosphere  and  looked 
with  a  fierce  joy  at  them. 

The  rain  dripped  on  the  gallery  floor  and  on 
the  wooden  steps  ;  a  chill,  sad  wind  rose,  and 
wandered  mournfully  through  the  tops  of  the 
big  trees  ;  the  hounds  in  the  kennels  began  to 
bay  ;  what  if  they  were  loose  ?  The  fright 


412  SHE  LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

added  fresh  fuel  to  her  angry  impatience ;  she 
told  herself,  in  awful  words,  it  was  the  last 
terror  he  should  ever  give  her.  She  was  mov 
ing  stealthily  to  the  door,  when  she  saw  his 
arms  drop ;  in  a  few  moments  he  was  asleep. 
She  hesitated  no  longer.  She  was  sure  of  her 
enemy  now. 

Her  tall,  large  figure,  in  its  wet,  dark  gar 
ment,  glided  softly  up  to  the  unconscious  man  ; 
she  needed  no  fresh  stimulant  to  her  purpose, 
but  if  she  had,  the  complacent  satisfaction  of 
his  sleeping  countenance  would  have  given  her 
it.  She  took  the  prostrate  body  by  the  throat, 
firmly,  pitilessly,  and  then  threw  her  weight 
upon  it.  Nigel  opened  his  eyes  ;  they  were 
full  of  agony  and  mortal  fear. 

"  Where  are  my  boys  ?  "  she  whispered 
fiercely  ;  "  where  are  my  boys  ?  Where  are  my 
daughters?  Oh,  you  thief  of  soul  and  body, 
you  shall  pay  their  price  this  night !  " 

He  struggled  for  his  life;  he  struggled  des 
perately  ;  but  that  wet,  awful  weight  would  not 
let  him  move  ;  those  hands  of  iron  would  not 
let  him  speak.  But,  oh  !  how  keen  was  his 
hearing.  The  dreadful  words  she  whispered  in 
his  ears  did  not  prevent  him  from  listening  with 
agonizing  intensity  for  some  footstep  ;  for  some 
help.  Oh,  if  Jane  had  only  been  with  him 
when  this  mad  woman  entered  !  A  tumult  of 
thoughts  went  like  billows  over  him,  blinded, 
deafened,  deadened  all  things ;  crept  to  his 


FORFAR  PAYS  ALL  DEBTS.  4'3 

heart  and  brain,  and  said  to  him  by  every  sense, 
"This  is  death"  And  at  that  moment  she 
held  him  firmest ;  and,  stooping  her  face  close 
to  his  face,  said,  in  a  dreadful  mutter  of  rage  : 
"O  wicked  soul,  what  is  passing  in  you  now?'' 

She  held  him  until  her  hands  grew  weary 
with  the  tension ;  until  the  lassitude  of  ex. 
hausted  feeling  attacked  her.  Then  she  sat 
down  on  the  floor  by  his  side  and  watched  him. 
If  he  had  stirred,  her  strength  would  have  come 
back  to  her  ;  but  he  never  moved,  he  never 
would  move  again.  Hour  after  hour  passed, 
and  the  murderess  watched  her  victim  with  an 
insane  intentness.  It  did  not  enter  her  mind 
to  escape.  She  sat  still  until  the  gray  day 
light,  drenched  in  rain,  came  noiselessly  in 
through  the  windows  and  found  out,  with  sur 
prised  and  awful  wonder,  the  face  of  the  dead 
man.  The  house  was  very  quiet.  A  cry  from 
little  Paul  startled  all  its  echoes.  Then  a  bell 
rang,  and  there  was  the  sound  of  bare  feet 
going  hurriedly  up-stairs. 

Jane  stood  by  the  crib  of  her  child  ;  Lucinda 
was  sullenly  building  the  fire.  When  a  girl 
opened  the  door,  Jane  fretfully  turned  to  her — 
"  How  late  you  are  this  morning!  Have  you 
seen  Master  Nigel?" 

"  No,  Miss  Jane." 

A  sudden  unreasonable  terror  turned  her 
heart  cold.  "See  if  there  is  any  one  sleeping 
in  the  other  rooms." 


4r4  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

The  girl  returned  in  a  few  moments.  "  No 
body  in  any  of  them,  Miss  Jane." 

"  Go  to  the  parlor,  and  see  if  Master  Nigel 
is  sleeping  there.  If  so,  make  up  the  fire  " — 
and  she  shivered  and  looked  toward  the  sput 
tering,  smoking  mass  Lucinda  was  building. 

The  girl  came  flying  back,  with  horror  in  her 
face,  but  unable  to  utter  a  word.  She  pointed 
down-stairs,  threw  herself  upon  the  floor,  and 
began  to  roll  about  with  hideous  contortions. 

In  a  few  moments  Jane  stood  by  the  side  of 
her  husband.  Tatelle  looked  at  her  with  the 
cunning  hatred  of  insanity.  Jane  returned  her 
gaze  with  one  of  passionate  power.  "  You  are 
a  murderess!"  she  said.  "Sit  still!  Do  not 
dare  to  move  !  Reuben,  Gabe,  Sally,  Malinda  ! 
Quick!  Come  here."  She  kept  her  eyes  upon 
the  crouching  woman,  and  held  her  with  them, 
until  the  room  filled  and  she  was  secured. 

41 1 did  it!  I  did  it!  I  did  it!"  The  mur 
deress  said  the  words  over  and  over  continually 
with  a  triumphant  hatred,  until  Jane  answered 
her  with  a  passion  equal  to  her  own — "  You  are 
a  wicked  woman  !  You  are  a  murderess !  " 

The  news  spread  like  wildfire.  Men  talked 
it  over  in  all  their  gathering  places  ;  and  women 
spoke  bitterly  of  Nigel  Forfar  for  being  the 
cause  of  such  an  outrageous  vengeance.  It 
put  dreadful  thoughts  of  murder  into  the  minds 
of  their  own  slaves.  It  was  a  dangerous  ex 
ample.  No  one  knew  who  might  do  likewise. 


FORFAR  PAYS  ALL   DEBTS.  4T5 

At  sunset  the  murdered  man  was  buried  in 
his  own  grounds.  Under  some  great  trees  be 
tween  the  garden  and  the  swamp  there  was  a 
square  acre  in  which  three  generations  of  For- 
fars  slept,  old  and  young  men,  mothers  and 
maidens.  A  few  weeks  previously,  on  a  lovely 
Sabbath  evening,  Jane  and  Nigel  had  walked 
there.  Nigel  told  her  incidents  relating  to  the 
dead  men  and  women ;  and  they  spent  a 
solemnly  tender  hour,  until  Jane  made  a  remark 
which  wounded  the  easily  wounded  sensibilities 
of  her  husband.  The  inscription  upon  every 
stone  began  in  the  same  way  ;  it  struck  her  fin 
ally,  and  she  read  aloud,  in  a  slow,  dubious 
voice  : 

"  '  Here  rests  Stephen  John  Forfar,'  etc. 
Men  write  '  he  rests,'  but  what  do  they  know 
about  it,  Nigel  ?  " 

"  My  family  lived  honorable  lives,  Jane,  and 
died  in  their  beds,  with  all  the  consolations  of 
religion.  Why  should  they  not  rest  ?  There 
are  no  wandering  ghosts  among  the  Forfars." 

His  tone  showed  great  offense,  and  she  did 
not  take  the  trouble  to  explain  her  meaning. 
Their  conversations  often  terminated  with  this 
air  of  misunderstanding,  willful  misunderstand 
ing,  generally,  upon  Nigel's  part.  She  became 
silent,  and  when  they  reached  the  gate  she 
passed  through  it.  Nigel  followed  her.  They 
went  on  a  few  steps,  and  then  Jane  stopped 
and  said  : 


4*6  SHE  LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

"  Shut  the  gate,  Nigel.  It  is  not  well  to 
leave  it  open.  It  looks  like — it  might  be 
tieeded." 

"  How  sillily  superstitious  you  are  !  " 

"  Perhaps  all  women  in  my  case  are  super 
stitious.  Shut  it,  to  please  me,  Nigel." 

"  No,  I  will  not  humor  such  ridiculous  feel 
ings." 

Then  Jane  stepped  back  and  closed  the  gate, 
and  as  she  rejoined  him,  she  added,  in  a  con 
ciliatory  voice,  "  I  have  heard  my  father  say 
we  should  always  protect  graves,  or  else  we 
offend  the  dead." 

"  It  is  as  much  as  I  can  do  to  please  the 
living,  Jane." 

"  I  think,  also,  we  should  wish  to  please  the 
dead,  Nigel  ;  they  are  a  great  cloud  of  wit 
nesses." 

Trifling  acts  and  words  impress  those  in  sor 
row.  That  woeful  day  following  Nigel's  mur 
der,  Jane  could  not  keep  the  circumstance  of 
this  visit  to  the  graveyard  out  of  her  mind. 
If  Nigel  had  shut  the  gate,  could  it  have  influ 
enced  his  destiny?  Great  natural  events  turn 
upon  such  little  things;  was  the  supernatural 
affected  by  matters  equally  slight  and  appar 
ently  insignificant?  Did  Nigel,  knowing  her 
condition  and  her  superstition,  purposely  leave 
it  open,  thinking,  hoping — that  he  left  it 
open  for  her?  She  put  the  doubt  quickly 
away.  "  I  must  not  think  ill  of  the  dead," 


FORFAR  PAYS  ALL  DEBTS.  4^7 

she  moaned  — "  he  can  never  speak  for  him 
self." 

She  saw  Nigel's  face  no  more  after  that  first 
awful  vision  of  it  in  the  presence  of  his  insane 
murderess.  In  the  late  afternoon  a,  large  gath 
ering  of  gentlemen  carried  their  comrade  to  his 
place  among  his  ancestors.  The  rain  plashed 
heavily  on  them,  and  the  sad  autumn  storm 
filled  the  air  with  melancholy  drifts  of  faded 
leaves.  Outside  the  fence  the  negroes  stood 
bareheaded,  and  full  of  passing  pity.  They 
had  had  a  day's  rest,  and  they  went  back  to 
their  cabins  to  whisper  about  their  own  fates. 
It  was  the  general  opinion  Miss  Jane  would 
sell  them  all.  They  knew  she  hated  the  South, 
and  her  sympathy  had  evidently  not  impressed 
them  as  meaning  anything  practically  kind. 
They  expected  her  to  sell  them. 

John  Paul  had  been  sent  for  immediately  on 
the  discovery  of  Nigel's  murder.  He  arrived 
soon  after  Jane  had  given  birth  to  a  daughter. 
The  child  was  scarcely  a  day  old,  the  mother 
was  apparently  at  her  last  day.  But  John 
Paul's  presence  was  like  a  breath  of  fresh 
strong  air  in  a  vault.  It  was  felt  throughout 
the  house,  and  it  set  everything  into  healthy 
movement.  So  that  when  Jane  was  able  to 
leave  her  room,  and  take  an  interest  in  her  af 
fairs,  all  were  ready  for  her  consideration. 

One  clear,  frosty  day,  John  Paul,  coming  in 
from  a  walk,  found  her  standing  over  the  era- 


4i  8  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

die  of  her  infant.  There  was  such  an  expres 
sion  of  pain  on  her  face  that  he  instantly  joined 
her.  "  My  dear  Jane,"  he  said,  "  I  am  sure 
you  have  a  sad  thought ;  tell  it  to  me." 

"Sad  and  strange,  father.  If  I  had  not  the 
proof  of  it,  I  scarcely  know  how  you  would 
believe  it."  She  lifted  a  book  lying  near  her 
and  made  him  look  at  it. 

(<<A  History  of  the  Forfar  Family  to  the 
Time  of  their  Emigration.'"  He  read  the 
title  aloud,  and  Jane  answered  his  questioning 
look. 

"  Yes ;  and,  as  you  see,  it  is  in  old  Scotch 
and  very  hard  to  read,  but  you  may  spell  this 
out  fairly  enough  : 

'  and  because  of  the  cruel,  shameful  wrong  wrought  on  this 
poor  orphan  maid,  a  doom  was  set  on  all  the  males  of  Forfar — 
2 hat  they  should  never  see  a  daughter  s  face.' 

My  poor  little  girl  is  a  doom  child.  She  is  the 
first  daughter  born  to  the  house  since  they 
came  to  America,  and  Nigel  did  not  live  to  see 
her." 

"  My  dear  Jane,  Nigel  earned  his  own  doom, 
and  there  is  no  man  to  blame  for  it  but  him 
self." 

"  Yea  !  the  wrong  began  with  his  father,  and 
the  sins  of  the  fathers  are  visited  on  the  chil 
dren." 

"  If  Nigel  had  done  right,  he  would  not  have 
borne  his  father's  wrong." 

"  That  dreadful   night,  as  I  lay  asleep  upon 


FORFAR   PAYS  ALL   DEBTS. 

my  bed,  I  had  a  dumb  consciousness  that,  in  the 
dark,  Nigel  passed  me,  and  that  we  exchanged 
a  thought,  a  word,  in  the  passing.  In  the  morn 
ing  I  had  forgiven  him  everything,  everything, 
as  soon  as  I  awakened — before  I  knew  that  he 
was  dead.  Oh,  father,  what  did  he  say  to  me  ? 
When  his  soul  was  suddenly  dismissed  into  the 
cold,  dark,  empty  space,  where  did  it  go?  Is 
God  any  more  there  than  he  is  here  ?  What  is 
meant  by  heaven  ?  " 

"  Jane,  my  child,  if  you  ask  questions  like 
these,  you  must  go  to  my  friend  Mason  with 
them.  I  am  not  wiser  than  what  is  written.  I 
confess,  though,  I  asked  him  a  somewhat  simi 
lar  question  when  Marius  Bradford  disappeared. 
'  You  think  he  is  in  heaven,  Major ;  what  do- 
you  mean  by  that  ?  "  I  said  these  words  very 
thoughtlessly,  expecting  an  ordinary  answer, 
and  I  was  a  little  startled  at  what  he  said." 

"  Tell  me." 

"  He  turned  his  large,  thoughtful,  far  away 
eyes  upon  my  eyes,  and  spoke  thus  :  '  My  friend, 
when  the  soul  leaves  the  body,  it  is  of  necessity 
in  that  place  in  the  heavens  where  our  planet 
is  at  the  moment  of  separation.  Thus  we  are 
in  the  heavens  immediately  after  death,  as  in 
deed  we  have  been  the  whole  of  our  lives,  only 
we  are  free  from  that  weight  which  fixed  us  to 
the  planet.  Consider,  however,  that  our  earth 
travels  in  her  orbit  26,800  leagues  every  hour; 
then  in  one  hour  how  far  from  its  late  habita- 


420  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

tion  the  soul  may  be  ?  '  And  I  answered  him, 
'  No,  my  friend,  I  will  not  consider  about  such 
mysteries.  I  will  say,  into  Thy  hands  I  com 
mit  my  spirit,  and  rest  all  and  leave  all  these.' 
But  now  there  is  a  straight,  plain  duty  before 
you,  Jane,  and  if  you  are  well  enough  to  think 
and  act,  the  sooner  we  do  what  is  right  and 
the  better  the  deed.  Can  you  listen  to  me  to 
day  ?  " 

"  Yes.     I  am  ready  to  do  all  you  wish." 

"  This  house  and  land,  and  the  men  and 
women  pertaining  to  it,  are  mine.  I  want 
neither  the  house  nor  the  land  nor  the  men  or 
women  servants.  Do  you  ?" 

"  I  wish  to  go  away  from  here  and  never  see 
the  place  again." 

"  Listen  then.  I  shall  set  the  servants  free. 
I  shall  sell  the  house  and  land,  and  divide  the 
price  among  them.  It  is  the  wages  of  their 
body  labor  and  their  soul  travail,  and  I  will 
have  none  of  it." 

"  I  think  you  are  right." 

"  The  little  babe  is  crying  ;  lift  her,  and  then 
sit  down  by  me,  and  while  she  is  in  your  arms 
we  will  arrange  this  act  of  justice.  Though 
she  will  have  no  part  in  the  good  deed,  it  may 
bring  a  blessing  on  her.  And,  Jane,  at  this 
hour  we  will  name  her;  we  will  call  her  after 
your  grandmother,  Justine  Diedrich,  a  good 
woman." 

So  the   babe  Justine  was  of  the  council  of 


FORFAR  PAYS  ALL   DEBTS.  421 

mercy,  and  when  John  Paul  rose  up  from  it  he 
went  straight  into  Memphis,  and  made  an  offer 
of  the  Forfar  place  to  Nigel's  late  factor.  The 
man  had  intimated  his  wish  to  buy,  and  the 
bargain  was  soon  concluded  ;  though  he  said 
that  Mr.  Keteltas  drove  a  hard  trade,  asking 
full  price,  and  taking  nothing  in  payment  but 
the  metal  coins  which  went  by  the  name  of 
<(  Jackson  money." 

In  the  mean  time  the  slaves  had  been  enjoy 
ing  a  kind  of  long  holiday.  One  of  John  Paul's 
first  acts  was  to  pay  off  the  overseer.  Then  he 
called  the  men  and  women  together,  and  told 
them  to  be  their  own  overseer,  to  do  honest 
work,  and  sooner  or  later  he  would  estimate  it. 
They  had  begun  to  feel  as  if  Miss  Jane's  rule 
was  going  to  be  a  very  good  one,  and  to  dread 
only  lest  there  should  be  a  change.  "  Dese 
times  too  good  to  last,"  said  faithful  old 
Toby  ;  and  when  all  hands  were  ordered  to  the 
bi^  house  on  the  morning  of  the  nth  of 
December,  the  sage  shook  his  white  head,  and 
asked  sadly,  "  What  I  tole  you  ;  too  good  times 
to  last." 

For  a  muster  at  the  big  house  had  always 
been  the  way  in  which  some  final  break  had 
been  announced.  It  meant  separation  and 
sorrow  and  change,  and  the  tendency  of  middle- 
aged  humanity  is  to  abide  the  ills  they  know 
rather  than  try  what  is  remote  and  unfamiliar. 

John  Paul  sat  by  a  table  on  which  there  was 


422  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

\  large  quanitity  of  gold  and  silver  coin.  His 
grandson  was  on  his  knee.  Jane  and  the  babe 
Justine  occupied  a  large  chair  near  at  hand. 
There  was  an  air  of  pleasure  and  of  solemn 
happiness  on  their  faces.  The  sunshine 
streamed  joyously  into  the  room,  the  fire 
crackled  and  leaped  in  its  broad  hearth  alcove. 
As  the  anxious  men  and  women  came  slowly 
in,  they  felt  a  burden  roll  from  their  hearts  ; 
they  hoped  they  knew  not  what — certainly 
nothing  like  what  actually  came  to  them. 

"  Men  and  women,"  said  John  Paul,  and  his 
voice  trembled  with  the  joy  in  his  heart  "  men 
and  women,  you  and  your  children  are  free  ! 
from  this  hour,  free  forever  !  " 

There  was  a  moment's  dead  silence,  then  a 
sob,  a  cry,  a  shout,  that  made  John  Paul's  heart 
quiver,  and  his  face  shine,  and  the  tears  roll 
unchecked  down  his  rosy  cheeks.  Jane  wept 
without  restraint ;  she  pressed  her  baby  to  her 
breast,  and  prayed  inwardly  for  the  dear  dead 
she  did  not  name.  Who  dare  blame  her  for  an 
instinct  so  natural  and  so  universal  ?  Where 
is  it  forbidden  that  we  pray  for  our  dead  ?  Is 
God's  mercy  so  short  that  it  reaches  only  earth  ? 
If  we  ascend  into  heaven,  or  go  down  into  hellr 
can  we  ever  get  beyond  his  love?  Jane's  heart 
said  to  her,  "  Pray  for  the  poor  soul  taken  in 
the  very  midst  of  its  premeditated  sins,"  and 
she  prayed,  doubting  nothing  of  the  love  of 
God. 


FORFAR  PA  YS  ALL   DEBTS.  423 

Many  of  the  women  and  some  of  the  men 
had  fallen  on  their  knees.  John  Paul  waited 
till  the  first  happy  shock  was  over,  then  he 
continued  : 

"  I  have  sold  the  house  and  land,  and  the 
price  of  it  I  will  justly  divide  among  you.  In 
two  days  a  steamer  will  be  waiting  for  all  who 
wish  to  be  beyond  the  breath  of  slavery.  I 
will  go  with  you  to  Cairo  ;  I  will  see  you  safe 
on  free  soil.  Does  any  one,  old  or  young,  wish 
to  remain  here?" 

No ;  there  was  not  one.  Toby  said,  "  I'se 
near  a  hundred  years  ole,  Massa  ;  many  and 
evil  years,  Massa;  but  I  wants  to  go  wid  you. 
I  wants  to  die  free." 

It  was  well  that  the  hurry  of  their  departure 
claimed  something  from  the  amazing  joy  of 
their  new  condition.  The  first  effect  of  over 
whelming  light  is  blindness  ;  and  the  first  effect 
of  this  sudden  uplifting  of  despair  and  break 
ing  of  bonds  was  a  sobbing  amazement  and 
excess  of  happiness  that  was  almost  sadness. 
John  Paul  instantly  perceived  the  invasion  of 
this  soul-weakness.  As  the  men  and  women 
began  to  drop  down  and  cry  out,  they  knew 
not  why,  he  roused  them  by  a  peremptory  call 
to  duty. 

"  Come,  come,"  he  cried,  "  you  have  but  two 
days  to  prepare.  Yoke  up  the  oxen  and  load 
the  wagons  with  the  bacon,  potatoes,  and  corn 
meal  laid  up  for  the  winter.  You  must  take  it 


4-4  SHE  LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

with  you.  And  Miss  Jane  will  divide  among 
you  blankets  and  bedding,  and  such  furniture 
as  is  suitable  to  your  condition.  The  '  Amelia 
Poole  '  lies  at  the  wharf.  She  is  waiting  to 
take  you  to  a  new  and  happy  life  ;  get  her 
loaded  as  soon  as  you  can.  Hurry,  men  ! 
hurry !  Always  make  the  most  of  a  good 
hour." 

Then  a  passion  of  haste  brought  them  back 
to  themselves.  Jane  took  charge  of  the  excited 
women  and  directed  their  efforts.  John  Paul 
opened  up  the  smokehouse  and  cellar,  and  saw 
the  wagons  loaded,  and  went  with  them  to  the 
wharf,  lest  the  men  should  rouse  popular  feel 
ing  by  their  imprudent  rejoicing.  "  Keep 
quiet,  keep  quiet!"  he  charged  them.  "  You 
will  have  plenty  of  time  for  triumph.  Free 
dom  is  not  a  whisper  for  a  slave  city." 

He  took  them  on  board  the  "Amelia  Poole  " 
in  the  dusk  of  the  second  evening.  They  stole 
away  quietly,  a  few  by  one  street,  and  a  few  by 
another ;  some  at  one  hour,  others  a  little  later. 
There  was  no  stir,  no  noise  but  the  gathering 
steam  ;  and  it  was  not  until  Memphis  was  some 
miles  distant,  and  nothing  visible  but  the  irre 
sistible  sweep  of  the  dark  river,  and  the  somber 
line  of  the  endless  woods  on  its  banks,  that  a 
soft,  low  murmur  of  song  began  at  the  bow  of 
the  boat. 

John  Paul  walked  toward  it.  He  saw  the 
dusky  crowd  standing  there,  all  their  faces 


FORFAR  PA  YS  ALL  DEBTS.  425 

turned  one  way — to  the  North — to  freedom. 
Though  he  could  distinguish  neither  forms  nor 
sounds  perfectly,  that  little  congregation  of 
lifted  faces,  that  unexpected,  sincere  intrusion 
of  droning  solemn  music  into  the  still,  dark 
night,  affected  him  to  the  very  depths  of  his 
nature.  He  saw  and  heard,  as  the  angel  who 
kept  the  great  water-way  saw  and  heard,  for 

It  is  the  soul  that  sees  ; 

It  is  the  sympathy  that  hears. 

The  days  of  the  voyage  were  occupied 
in  discussing  the  plans  and  hopes  of  the 
freed  men  and  women.  Some  preferred  to 
go  to  the  inland  towns.  These  were'  the 
house  servants,  who  expected  to  find  in  hotels 
and  private  houses  profitable  employment. 
Others  desired  to  buy  land  and  build  cabins  ; 
these  were  the  field  hands,  who  had  generally 
large  families.  To  them  John  Paul  gave 
liberally  ;  to  each  single  man  and  woman  he 
gave  four  hundred  dollars.  He  talked  to  them 
as  he  would  have  talked  to  his  own  sons  and 
daughters  ;  warning,  advising,  preparing  them, 
as  well  as  warning  and  advice  can  ever  prepare 
a  human  being  for  the  dangers  and  perplexi 
ties  of  an  unforeseen  existence. 

It  was  very  cold 'weather  when  they  reached 
Cairo,  but  every  one  was  on  deck  to  catch  the 
first  glimpse  of  free  soil.  They  saw  it  as  the 
sun  rose  and  sent  bright  rays  of  golden  light 


426  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

across  the  level  land.  To  them  it  was  the 
land  of  Canaan.  They  watched  the  boat  near- 
ing  it  with  a  silence  more  impressive  than 
speech,  but  when  the  anchor  fell  and  the  gang 
way  was  laid  for  their  crossing,  a  great  shout 
escaped  them. 

They  pressed  round  John  Paul,  they  kissed 
his  hands  and  his  feet,  they  prayed,  they  went 
over  the  gangway  shouting  with  gladness,  and 
when  their  feet  touched  the  free  earth  they 
knelt  down  and  laid  their  lips  against  it,  and  so 
at  last,  all  together,  went  up  the  steep  hill 
singing.  A  tall,  powerful  field  hand,  with  a 
red  kerchief  round  his  head,  led  them.  His 
voice,  like  a  silver  trumpet,  rang  out,  seemed 
to  fill  the  horizon  from  east  to  west,  and  the 
men,  women,  and  children  followed  his  lead, 
keeping  time  with  slow,  stately  footsteps  and 
clapping  their  unshackled  hands  to  the  wild 
melody  : 

Hang  up  de  sword  in  Zion  ! 

My  Lord,  what  a  morning  ! 
Hang  up  de  sword  in  Zion  ! 

My  Lord,  what  a  morning  ! 
Ober  Jordan  in  de  morning  light ! 
In  de  morning  light, 
In  de  morning  light, 
My  Lord,  what  a  morning  ! 

And  then  again  the  loud,  triumphant  shout  of 
the  leader : 

Hang  up  de  sword  in  Zion  ! 


FORFAR  PAYS  ALL  DEBTS.  4*7 

And  far,  and  farther  away  with  every  move 
ment,  the  shrill,  sweet  wonder  of  grateful 
praise  : 

My  Lord,  what  a  morning  ! 

John  Paul  stood  watching  and  listening  until 
the  last  flutter  of  red  kerchiefs  passed  out  of 
sight ;  until  the  last  woman,  with  a  babe  at 
her  breast  and  four  little  children  clinging  to 
her  scant  clothing,  stood  a  moment  at  the 
turning,  and,  with  eyes  fixed  upon  the  anchored 
boat,  dropped  it  a  parting  courtesy.  And  some 
how  this  humble,  awkward  tribute  touched 
John  Paul  more  than  all  else.  He  lifted  his 
hat  and  wiped  his  eyes,  and  answered  it  with  a 
word  of  that  sudden  prayer  which  always  finds 
out  the  ear  of  God. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

THE  HAVEN  WHERE  THEY  WOULD  BE. 

I  saw  a  gradual  vision  through  my  tears. 

The  sweet  sad  years,  the  melancholy  years, 

Those  of  my  own  life,  who  by  turns  had  flung 

A  shadow  across  me.     Straightway  I  was  'ware, 

So  weeping,  how  a  mystic  shape  did  move 

Behind  me,  and  drew  me  backward  by  the  hair, 

And  a  voice  said  in  mastery,  while  I  strove, 

"Guess  now  who  holds  thee  ?"     "  Death,"   I  said  ;  but  there 

The  silver  answer  rang — "  Not  Death,  but  Love  !  " 

THE  year  which  had  been  so  fateful  to  Jane 
Forfar — which  had  seen  her  reunion  with 
Nigel,  the  birth  of  her  daughter,  the  murder  of 
her  husband,  and  the  writing  of  "  Finished  " 
across  the  whole  page  of  her  married  life,  was 
not  barren  of  events  touching  the  life  of 
Virginia  Mason. 

When  she  parted  with  Jane  in  its  beginning, 
she  thought  they  would  see  each  other's  faces 
no  more.  Jane  and  John  Paul  were  of  the  same 
opinion.  "I  think  Virginia  will  die  very  soon," 
Jane  said  ;  "  she  looks  more  hke  heaven  than 
earth  now."  And  John  Paul  answered,  "  I 
think  with  you  ;  before  a  bird  flies,  we  see  that 
it  has  wings." 

But  in  March  there  occurred  one  of  those 
438 


THE  HAVEN  WHERE   THEY   WOULD  BE.      429 

mysterious  agitations  which,  like  the  \vindr 
come  from  where  no  man  knows.  A  sailor  who 
had  been  some  time  on  the  "  Arethusa  "  spoke 
to  Major  Mason.  He  scouted  the  idea  of 
Marius  Bradford  having  been  lost;  ''none  of 
that  kind,  sir,"  he  said,  confidently,  and  the 
Major  somehow  transmitted  a  breath  of  confi 
dence  to  the  dying  girl.  In  the  settlement  of 
a  claim  ;  in  a  lawsuit ;  in  the  arrest  of  a  sailor 
who  still  wore  a  cap  bearing  the  name  of  the 
"Arethusa";  in  other  slight  and  apparently 
far-fetched  ways,  the  unfortunate  vessel  came 
again  upon  the  lips  of  living  men. 

One  afternoon  Virginia  was  moved  profound 
ly  by  an  urgent  request  from  Jack  Rhea.  For 
many  months  she  had  refused  to  see  Jack. 
She  thought  he  sorrowed  too  little  for  his 
brother  ;  she  looked  upon  his  buoyant  hope  in 
the  return  of  Marius  as  a  comfortable  way  of 
putting  Marius  out  of  his  mind.  In  the  sel 
fishness  of  her  own  suffering  she  had  indeed 
done  Jack  much  wrong. 

"  If  I  were  you,  I  would  search  the  ocean  for 
him  ;  I  would  not  rest  until  I  knew  whether  he 
was  dead  or  alive."  She  had  said  these  words 
to  Jack,  and  felt,  while  saying  them,  a  bitter, 
unreasonable  anger  when  she  contrasted  the 
happiness  and  prosperity  of  one  brother  with 
the  unknown,  sorrowful  fate  of  the  other. 
Jack's  satisfaction  with  his  wife  and  child,  and 
general  good  fortune,  irritated  her.  His  confi- 


4JO  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

deuce  was  an  offense  to  her  own  despair ;  she 
felt  that  she  was  unable  to  see  him,  and  had 
for  many  months  steadily  refused  to  do  so. 

But  he  came  again  one  bright  afternoon  in 
February,  and  he  urged  Nelly  to  procure  him 
an  interview  with  Miss  Mason.  Twice  that 
day  she  had  heard  the  "  Arethusa  "  named  ; 
the  word  was  stirring  her  heart  when  Jack 
called  ;  and  she  suddenly  resolved  to  see  him. 
He  came  into  her  presence  with  an  air  at  once 
solemn  and  hopeful.  He  was  not  so  oppres 
sively  full  of  life  and  joy  and  confidence.  She 
put  out  her  thin  white  hand,  and  welcomed 
him  kindly. 

Jack  drew  his  chair  close  to  her  sofa.  "  Vir 
ginia,"  he  said,  "  my  father  died  this  morning. 
vVe  brought  him  to  us  a  year  ago,  and  Carrie 
had  learned  to  love  the  dear  old  man  very 
much.  He  was  so  fond  and  proud  of  her  and 
of  our  little  Maria.  He  died  this  morning." 

"  Poor  father !  Grief  kills  the  aged  more 
mercifully  than  the  young.  How  he  must 
have  mourned  for  Marius  !  " 

"  No.  He  always  said  Marius  would  come 
home.  He  watched  every  day  and  every  hour 
for  him  ;  he  was  certain  he  would  live  to  see 
Marius." 

"  And  then  to  be  disappointed,  even  to  the 
last  moment  ! " 

"  Virginia,  he  was  not  disappointed.  This 
morning,  about  ten  o'clock,  when  he  had  lain 


///A  HAVEN  WHERE  THEY  WOULD  BE.      43 r 

still  and  apparently  lifeless  for  some  hours,  a 
faint,  flickering  light  came  into  his  gray  face. 
His  eyes  looked  far  off,  far  off,  and  he  saw 
what  filled  them  with  a  wonderful  joy  and 
light,  and  then  his  lips  parted.  He  began  to 
speak,  but  his  words  were  thick  and  rapid — like 
people  talking  as  they  pass  each  other." 

"Oh,  Jack!  what  did  you  hear?" 

"  I  heard  him  say  '  Marius  '  quite  distinctly, 
and,  after  a  short  pause,  as  if  in  answer  to  a 
question,  these  four  words — 'Just  before  the 
winter'  As  truly  as  I  live,  Virginia,  I  heard 
these  words  in  the  very  voice  of  Marius.  And 
the  voice  was  neither  sad  nor  weak  ;  it  was 
strong  and  pleasant,  but  low  and  faraway.  As 
truly  as  I  live,  Virginia,  I  believe  that  Marius 
will  return — -just  before  the  winter." 

She  listened  to  the  positive  words  of  the 
young  man  with  a  swift  conviction  of  their 
truth.  As  he  spoke  she  raised  herself  into  a 
sitting  posture,  her  lips  parted,  her  eyes 
gleamed  ;  she  said  softly,  when  Jack  ceased 
speaking,  "  Just  before  the  winter  !  I  will  wait 
for  him." 

"  You  will  not  be  disappointed.  Trust  me, 
trust  God,  Virginia.  He  bringeth  all  good 
things  to  pass."  Then  Jack  went  away,  but  he 
left  a  great  consolation  behind  him. 

When  Major  Mason  returned  home  that  day 
he  found  the  light  of  this  new  hope  still  upon 
her  face.  She  drew  him  close  to  her,  and, 


43 2  -S7/A    LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

holding  his  hands  in  hers,  repeated  what  Jack 
Rhea  had  said.  "  Do  you  believe  it,  father?  " 

"With  all  my  soul,  Virginia.  Last  week  I 
visited  Mr.  Rhea.  I  saw  then  that  he  was  at 
the  very  verge  of  this  life.  We  spoke  much  of 
Marius,  and  I  told  him  how  the  cruel  suspense 
in  which  his  fate  was  held  made  you  suffer.  I 
think,  ere  his  spirit  left  this  planet  for  the  star 
of  its  desire  and  destiny,  it  visited  Marius.  If 
in  dreams  the  soul  can  go  so  far,  see  so  much, 
and  bring  back  such  secret  intelligences,  how 
much  more  in  the  hour  and  article  of  death  ? 
He  still  retained  so  much  power  over  his  clay 
tool  as  to  speak  through  its  cold  lips — the  mes 
sage  given,  he  departed  forever." 

"I  wonder  if  Marius  knew?" 

"  When  he  comes,  ask  him." 

The  air  of  certainty  with  which  the  Major 
spoke  of  this  coming  was  charming.  It  was 
like  an  elixir  to  Virginia.  She  would  not  ques 
tion  it  away — "When  he  comes,  ask  him."  It 
was  evident  her  father  regarded  the  return  of 
Marius  with  a  positive  expectation. 

In  Virginia's  first  weeks  of  suspense  she  had 
suffered  all  the  anguish  of  a  soul  in  revolt.  The 
hard  reasoning  which  would  have  taught  her 
to  accept  calmly  an  inevitable  fact,  simply  be 
cause  the  disappearance  of  Marius  was  a  fact, 
and  was  inevitable,  she  could  not,  she  would 
not,  listen  to.  She  prayed,  she  implored  God 
for  her  lover's  return.  She  had  faith  in  God's 


THE  HAVEN  WHERE   THEY  WOULD  BE.      433 

sympathy,  and  in  this  loving  imploration  she 
continued  until  her  health  failed.  Then  her 
despair,  which  had  been  active,  became  a  som 
ber  despondency ;  her  soul  secretly  and  con 
stantly  fed  on  it,  and  it  induced  day  by  day  a 
languor  near  to  annihilation.  Continually  she- 
traced  the  same  circle,  asked  the  same  question, 
monotonously  repeated,  without  any  hope  to 
find  an  answer. 

For  it  was  one  of  Virginia's  misfortunes  that 
she  was  not  permitted  to  fight  out  the  battle 
alone.  Into  an  afflicted  soul  the  crowd  think 
they  have  a  right  to  come ;  it  is  like  a  con 
quered  city.  Friends,  acquaintances,  covert 
enemies,  came  to  visit  her  with  advices,  .pro 
testations,  concealed  reproaches.  One  said, 
"  Time  will  bring  forgetfulness,  and  wherever 
your  dear  one  is,  are  you  sure  that  he  will  con 
tinue  to  love  you  ?  Are  you  sure  even  that, 
after  five  or  even  two  years,  you  will  continue 
to  love  him?"  Such  inquiries  were  worse  than 
death.  Jack  spoke  of  the  many  virtues  of 
Marius.  He  wept  as  he  counted  over  his  acts 
of  loving-kindness,  and  Virginia  was  angry  at 
him  for  using  the  past  tense.  She  fancied  her 
long  sorrow  wearied  Jack,  who  had  his  living^ 
loves  to  care  for. 

But  worst  of  all  miserable  comforters  were 
those  who  pretended  to  bring  her  the  consola 
tions  of  heaven — who  told  her  of  a  God  who 
must  be  loved  alone,  and  who  jealously  broke 


434  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

all  earthly  idols — of  a  God  who  was  angry  at 
any  revolt  against  his  will;  pious  preachers, 
who  went  on  repeating  in  a  spiritual  manner 
phrases  of  purest  egotism — "  What  were  health 
and  riches,  human  glory,  human  science,  or 
even  human  love?  Nothing.  Every  day 
brought  some  wretched  example  of  their  failure 
to  give  lasting  happiness.  It  was  a  bad  calcu 
lation  to  love  any  earthly  thing;  the  only 
infallible  calculation  was  to  love  God.  He 
never  died,  he  never  failed,  and  he  was  master 
of  all  events."  Here  was  a  spiritual  logic  be 
yond  dispute,  and  they  expected  Virginia  to 
believe  their  report. 

But  her  whole  moral  nature  revolted  against 
it.  Her  friends  might  die,  might  even  cease 
to  love  her:  so  much  the  more  would  she  love 
them.  To  detach  herself  wholly  from  the 
creature,  and  give  herself  wholly  to  God,  be 
cause  the  creature  might  not  be  fully  worthy 
or  fully  reliable,  ah  !  that  was  not  God's  way 
of  loving  man !  She  felt  it  would  kill  her 
spiritually  and  physically.  She  said,  out  of  the 
fullness  of  her  sorrow,  "  I  will  not  listen  to  such 
consolation.  If  love  and  life  are  God's  gifts, 
how  can  I  help  weeping  when  he  takes  them 
away?  Was  it  not  when  God  saw  Job  pros 
trate  with  grief  because  of  his  bereavements 
that  he  said  of  him,  '  My  servant  Job,  who  has 
not  his  equal  upon  the  earth  ? ' '  And  until  her 
physical  health  gave  way,  she  resisted  all 


THE  HAVEN  WHERE   THEY  WOULD  BE.      435 

spiritual  poison  ;  she  clung  to  her  faith  ia 
God's  love,  as  a  child  clings  closer  and  closer  to 
the  father  who  is  chastising  it. 

Jack's  visit,  and  the  wonderful  promise  of  it, 
affected  her  very  remarkably.  It  seemed  to 
suddenly  arrest  the  stealthy  undermining  of  her 
life  by  sorrow.  And  in  a  few  weeks  this  truce 
with  death  was  evident.  She  had  visibly 
gained.  She  began  to  forget  her  own  sorrow, 
and  to  think  of  her  father's  long  patience  with 
his  darkened  days  ;  and  when  an  invalid  has 
progressed  thus  far,  love  and  care  will  do  the 
rest. 

Nelly  was  quick  to  seize  every  favorable 
symptom  and  nurse  it,  until  it  nursed  the 
patient.  She  would  not  allow  that  there  had 
been  anything  remarkable  in  the  old  fisher 
man's  message.  The  circumstance  was  not  a 
bit  uncommon. 

"  Whya  !  "  she  said,  with  the  most  matter-of- 
fact  air,  "  it's  a  varry  common  way  with  York 
shire  folk.  There  was  old  Dickie  Umpleby — a 
stubborn  soul  as  iver  was — and  he  wouldn't 
forgive  young  Dick,  till  he  got  fair  out  of  his 
body,  as  it  were ;  then,  when  they  were 
straightening  him  for  his  burying,  he  whispered, 
'  I  forgive  Dick ';  and  frightened  Ann  Oddy 
into  a  screaming  sickness.  And  Thwaite  of 
Top  Farm  spoke  to  his  wife  when  she  was  kiss- 
ing  him  in  the  parting  moment :  and  what  he 
said  no  one  knew,  but  it  turned  Lizzie  Thwaite 


436  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

white  as  a  snow-drift  ;  and  she  niver  smiled  at 
aught  again  as  long  as  she  lived.  And  a  lile 
lad  of  Jimmy  Hurd's  at  Beggarmonds,  that 
died  on  my  awn  mother's  knee,  came  back  a 
moment  with  a  word  of  comfort  that  dried 
Peggy  Hurd's  tears  and  made  her  feel  as  if  she 
were  a  varry  happy  woman."  Then  Nelly 
stopped  talking,  and  began  opening  and  shut 
ting  drawers.  She  wanted  Virginia  to  ask 
questions — to  talk — to  feel  an  interest  in  some 
one  outside  her  own  life  ;  and  she  thought  she 
saw  some  evidence  of  this  condition.  In  a  few 
moments  Virginia  said: 

"  Come  here,  Nelly,  and  finish  your  story. 
What  did  that  lile  lad  of  Jimmy  Hurd's  say?  " 

"  You  see,  Miss,  he  was  the  only  lad-bairn 
they  had  ;  and  his  mother  thought  he  hedn't  a 
fault — no  more  he  hed.  He  was  nobbut  three 
years  old  when  he  took  a  fever  and  just  burnt 
up,  as  it  were,  in  a  day  or  two ;  and  Peggy 
Hurd,  that  hed  niver  let  him  out  of  her  sight, 
was  just  beside  hersen  wi'  the  thought  of  the 
poor  lile  chap  in  the  great  heaven,  all  by  him- 
sen.  '  T'  Hurds  hev  niver  been  church-goers/ 
she  said,  '  and  I  niver  heard  tell  of  one  o'  them 
heving  a  title  clear,  or  even  expecting  to  go 
there ;  and  what  iver  will  my  poor  baby  do 
there?  He'll  be  that  lonely — he'll  hev  no  one 
to  kiss  and  cuddle  him,  and  no  one  to  tak'  a 
bit  of  care  of  him  ' ;  and  then  she  sobbed  for 
the  lonely  baby  as  if  her  heart  would  break  in- 


THE  HAVEN  WHERE   THEY  WOULD  BE.      437 

two.  We  thought  he  was  quite  gone,  and 
Peggy's  face  was  bended  o'er  him.  All  of  a 
sudden  she  stopped  crying,  and  looked  with 
her  varry  soul  at  the  wee  lad,  and  as  sure  as 
you  are  there,  Miss,  he  opened  his  eyes  a  mo 
ment,  and  said,  just  as  soft  and  sweet  as  iver 
was — '  God  will  take  care  of  baby.'  Now  then, 
what  do  you  make  of  that  ?  " 

"  Oh,  Nelly,  I  think  God  takes  care  of  us 
all." 

"  To  be  sure  he  does — dead  or  alive — he 
cares  for  us.  And  Captain  Bradford  has  nob- 
but  been  away  a  bit  over  a  year.  Whitby  lads 
are  three  and  four  years  away.  John  Thomas 
says  so.  A  matter  of  a  year  or  two,  what  of 
that?  The  captain  hes  been  kept  away,  I'll 
be  bound,  for  some  good  end.  Old  Mr.  Aslin, 
the  Wesleyan  preacher,  whenever  he  preached 
a  funeral  sermon,  said  the  brother  or  sister  hed 
been  taken  from  t'  evil  to  come.  Varry  well, 
a  man  can  be  kept  out  of  evil,  as  well  as  taken 
from  it.  I'm  sure  nobody  with  a  mite  of  sense 
would  want  to  be  a  married  man  in  these 
times — flour  eighteen  dollars  a  barrel ;  coal  ten 
dollars  a  ton ;  meat  that  high  one  hates  the 
sight  of  a  cow  ;  and " 

"  What  are  you  talking  about,  Nelly?" 

"  The  God's  truth,  Miss.  The  Major  wouldn't 
hev  you  told,  but  there  hes  been  a  sight  of 
trouble.  Whya  !  not  a  week  since,  there  was 
a  big  bread  riot  here  in  New  York  City,  Miss." 


438  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

"Nelly!  Nelly!     And  no  one  told  me!  " 

"  I  would  hev  told  you,  Miss,  if  the  mas 
ter  would  hev  let  me.  I  think  it  would  hev 
stirred  the  life  in  you,  and  done  you  lots  of 
good." 

"  A  riot  for  bread  in  New  York !  Impos 
sible  ! " 

"  Not  a  bit  impossible.  It  were  a  Monday 
morning,  when  women  and  men  worth  aught 
should  hev  been  at  their  washing,  or  off  to 
their  daily  work  ;  but  they  hev  been  talking  all 
Sunday  about  not  heving  all  they  wanted,  and 
they  felt  as  if  they  ought  to  take  it.  There 
hed  been  a  notice  put  up  on  Sunday  ivery- 
where,  calling  all  t'  ragamuffins  together  at 
four  o'clock  in  t'  City  Hall  Park ;  and  they 
were  on  hand — you  might  hev  wagered  your  life 
they  would  be.  Four  o'clock  meant  night,  and 
night  work  ;  any  fool  should  hev  known  that, 
but  it  seems  a  dispensation  of  politics  to  put 
less  than  fools  in  ivery  city  office.  They  niver 
hindered  Moses  Jaques — the  biggest  idler  of 
all  idlers — from  telling  t'  poor,  shivering,  sense 
less  crowd  around  him  that  they  ought  to  hev 
flour  at  their  awn  price.  '  There  is  fifty-three 
thousand  barrels  of  flour  in  Ely  Hart's  store,' 
he  said  ;  '  let  us  go  and  offer  him  eight  dollars 
a  barrel  for  it,  and  if  he  won't  take  it  ' — then 
he  stopped  and  looked  at  the  mob,  and  they 
were  quick  to  take  the  hint.  They  poured 
down  Dey  and  Washington  Streets,  five  thou- 


HAVEN   WHERE   THEY  WOULD  BE.      439 

sand  of  them,  and  soon  bed  the  whole  fifty- 
three  thousand  barrels  on  t'  pavement." 

"What  a  shame  !  "  She  was  greatly  excited, 
and  Nelly  saw  with  delight  a  faint  color  spread 
over  her  cheeks  and  throat. 

"  Wasn't  it  a  shame  ?  Fifty-three  thousand 
barrels  !  John  Thomas  said  you  could  hear  the 
thud  of  the  barrels,  thrown  from  t'  upper  story, 
above  the  shouts  of  men  and  the  screaming  of 
the  women  ;  and  when  the  soldiers  did  get  there 
the  street  for  far  away  was  knee  deep  in  flour." 

"Why  did  not  the  mayor,  the  merchants,  the 
military  interfere  ?  " 

"  Well,  Miss,  the  United  States  being  blest 
vvi'  a  popilar  government,  hes  to  give  idlers 
more  than  their  awn  ill  way.  But  if  they  were 
to  try  such  doos  in  Turkey  as  they  put  upon 
decent  people  here,  it  wouldn't  be  long  before 
t'  Sultan  would  nail  their  ears  to  t'  church 
•doors." 

"  I  am  afraid  I  have  been  very  selfish  in  my 
sorrow,  Nell)'-." 

"  Well,  you  hev,  Miss.  Sorrow  is  a  child 
that  needs  no  nursing,  and  few  childer  get  as 
much.  The  master  hes  hed  a  sight  of  trouble 
lately,  and  nobody  to  say  a  word  of  comfort  to 
him.  I  hev  been  sorry  for  him  many  a  time 
and  oft.  And  I  know  he  is  wanting  a  bit  of 
pleasure  now  he  will  niver  take  unless  you  say 
the  word." 

"  What  is  it,  Nelly?" 


440  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

"  I  heard  him  talking  yesterday  to  Mr.  Ketel- 
tas.  Mr.  Keteltas  thanked  the  Almighty  that 
terrible  old  man,  President  Jackson,  would 
soon  be  out  of  his  place,  and  the  master  said 
he  would  be  very  thankful  to  God  if  he  could 
only  see  him  once  more  while  he  was  in  it — 
and  so  on  they  talked  ;  and  I  could  see  the 
master's  heart  was  deep  in  the  matter,  but  he 
would  niver  say  a  word  to  you  about  it ;  not 
he!" 

"  Nevertheless  he  must  go,  Nelly.  He  will 
be  much  the  better  for  such  a  change." 

"  And  you  too,  Miss.  To  be  sure,  you  hn* 
hed  a  big  trouble  ;  but  if  you'll  count  father 
and  home,  money  and  friends,  and  God's  love, 
to  sweeten  all,  and  then  reckon  things  up, 
you'll  agree  that  the  bright  side  is  a  long  chalk 
ahead  of  the  dark  side." 

"Thank  you,  Nelly.  I  wish  you  had  spoken 
as  plainly  long  ago." 

"  It  would  hev  been  no  use,  Miss.  You  can 
not  cross  the  stile  till  you  come  to  it ;  and  it 
was  Mr.  Rhea's  message  gave  me  a  license  to 
speak  at  all." 

The  result  of  this  conversation  was  a  mani 
fest  one.  Major  Mason  went  to  Washington,* 
and  his  daughter,  wisely  guided  by  Nelly, 
gained  a  little  strength  every  day.  Indeed, 
when  her  father  returned,  Virginia  was  able  to 
meet  him  with  much  of  the  demonstrative  love 
she  had  been  used  to  give  ;  and  also  to  feel  a 


THE  HAVEN  WHERE   THEY  WOULD  BE.      44* 

very  pleasant  curiosity  in  the  events  of  the 
visit. 

It  had  been  a  delightful  one.  The  Major 
was  quite  excited  over  it,  and  when  he  found 
Virginia  ready  to  listen,  he  gave  her  a  smile  so 
full  of  love  and  gratitude  that  her  heart  re 
proached  her  severely ;  and  she  drew  her  fa 
ther's  wasted  face  down  to  hers,  and  kissed  it 
fondly,  and  promised  with  the  kiss  to  try  and 
accept  God's  will  cheerfully,  and  wait  even  so 
for  the  promise  she  hoped  in. 

"  Then  I  am  a  very  happy  man  to-night, 
Virginia.  I  have  my  daughter  back,  and  I 
have  had  a  good  visit,  spent  many  pleasant 
hours  with  my  old  friend  and  comrade." 

"  You  were  at  the  White  House  ?  " 

"  Often.  A  grand  old  man  is  Andrew  Jack 
son  !  I  went  there  first  in  the  morning.  He 
was  alone  and  smoking.  He  gave  me  a  pipe, 
and  we  talked  over  the  days  of  our  youth 
together.  Then  we  spoke  of  Texas,  and  he 
leaped  to  his  feet,  and  glowed  like  a  hot  coal, 
and  glorified  Houston,  and  the  men  who  had 
fought  and  fallen  for  our  gain,  till  I  felt  the 
hot  tears  in  my  eyes,  and  the  trumpet  of  bat 
tle  in  my  ears,  and  I  went  to  his  side  and 
clasped  his  hand,  and  we  stood  still  and  looked 
at  each  other,  while  the  splendid  drama  passed 
like  a  burning  thought  between  us." 

"  '  Faults  ! '  he  cried.  '  No,  sir  !  these  Texans 
have  no  faults  toward  their  fellow-men,  and 


442  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

how  they  stand  toward  the  Eternal  is  no 
man's  business.  Houston  has  fought  splen 
didly,  and  refrained  himself  in  the  hour  of  vic 
tory,  as  only  a  man  with  the  heart  of  a  hero 
could^ave  done.'  After  this  visit  I  went  often 
in  the  evenings  and  talked  with  him." 

"  Does  he  give  many  entertainments  at  the 
White  House?" 

"  No  ;  he  lives  in  the  most  modest  simplicity. 
Picture  to  yourself  a  large  room  barely  fur 
nished  and  lit  by  a  chandelier  in  the  center, 
and  at  the  further  end  of  the  room  a  plain 
table  covered  with  papers  and  the  President's 
large  chair  before  it.  Here  he  sits  smoking 
and  writing,  or  listening  to  Mr.  Livingston,  the 
Secretary  of  State,  reading  dispatches." 

"  I  have  read  that  he  smokes  only  a  pipe." 

"  A  long  reed  pipe,  with  a  bowl  of  red  clay. 
A  backwoodsman  from  Tennessee,  while  I  was 
there,  begged  it  from  him,  and  went  home  the 
proudest  man  in  the  universe." 

"  What  about  the  ladies  of  his  family,  father? 
Did  you  see  them  ?  " 

"Oh,  yes!  Mrs.  Donelson,  Mrs.  Andrew 
Jackson,  and  Mrs.  Livingston  were  generally 
sitting  around  the  fire,  either  reading  or  sew- 
ing.  Five  or  six  children,  all  under  seven 
years  of  age,  played  about  the  room." 

"I  should  think  children  would  trouble  the 
consideration  of  state  papers." 

"  When    they  are    too    noisy,  the  President 


THE  HAVEN  WHERE   THEY  WOULD  BE.      443 

would  gently  wave  his  pipe  toward  them,  and 
Mrs.  Donelson  rise  and  check  their  too  rough 
play.  A  great  old  man,  Virginia,  and  carrying 
the  impress  of  his  fine  primitive  nature.  He 
looked  like  a  patriarch,  a  monarch,  an  Indian 
chief.  He  is  the  typical  American  of  an  era 
Time  will  never  bring  back." 

"Yet  no  man  has  been  more  bitterly  abused 
and  condemned.  There  are  many  ill  charges 
against  him." 

"  Lies  !  Let  them  have  time  and  they  will 
fly  on  their  own  wings.  One  thing  is  certain  ; 
though  Andrew  Jackson  has  been  abused,  no 
one  has  ever  thought  of  ridiculing  him.  Ridi 
cule  is  the  lightning  that  kills  a  reputation. 
Aristophanes  was  only  a  comedian,  but  he  had 
the  power  to  toss  his  enemies  among  the  popu 
lace  of  a  thousand  cities  for  a  thousand  years. 
But  however  much  men  may  blame,  no  man 
can  find  food  for  ridicule  in  Andrew  Jack 
son." 

"  He  is  old,  but  he  seems  to  have  many  to 
love  him." 

"  He  is  still  young ;  his  heart  can  never  dry 
up,  so  many  fresh  springs  run  into  it." 

"  Does  he  speak  eloquently  ?  " 

"  His  words  are  current  words,  and  ring  well, 
and  when  his  voice  leaves  his  lips  it  goes 
straight  to  the  heart  of  the  listener." 

"  You  look  so  happy  and  so  much  better, 
father." 


444  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOtc. 

"I  have  had  a  good  two  weeks,  Virginia, 
and  the  crown  of  it  is  in  finding  you,  my  child, 
able  once  more  to  share  my  pleasure." 

There  is  something  very  compelling  in  the 
gentleness  and  indulgence  of  an  aging  father. 
Virginia's  heart  ached  with  the  thought  that 
she  had  darkened  one  whole  year  of  the  few 
years  remaining  to  him.  Whatever  she  suffered 
privately,  she  was  resolved  in  the  future  to 
make  no  shadow  in  her  home.  An  armed  soul 
could  dwell  in  a  feeble  body,  and  unselfishness 
arms  a  soul  at  every  point ;  it  has  expedients 
for  all  necessities,  and  consolations  for  all  ex 
tremities. 

As  the  summer  advanced  the  Major  proposed 
a  long  visit  to  Rockaway,  and  Virginia  an 
swered,  "Indeed  I  shall  like  it,  father.  We 
shall  see  the  great  ships  go  in  and  out, 
and " 

"  And  if  Marius  should  come  in  any  one  of 
them " 

"  I  should  know  it  as  he  passed  me,  though 
there  were  miles  of  space  between  us." 

"  You  think  so,  you  feel  so,  Virginia  ;  but,  as 
a  fact,  Destiny  loves  surprises,  and  the  great 
events  of  our  lives  take  us  unawares." 

So  the  sum, ner  passed  not  unpleasantly  away 
in  spite  of  business  and  financial  prostration. 
Indeed,  this  very  year  was  a  time  of  delirious 
distress  in  New  York's  history.  Failures  were 
so  numerous  that  men  ceased  to  number  them. 


THE  HAVEN  WHERE   THEY  WOULD  BE.      445 

Merchants  were  gasping  for  breath,  and  work- 
ingmen,  on  the  point  of  starvation,  were  be 
ginning  to  form  protective  combinations — a 
phenomenon  so  strange  in  America  that  it  was 
judiciously  pronounced  "a  European  notion, 
needless  and  incompatible  with  our  free  insti 
tutions." 

In  May  there  was  a  general  suspension  of 
banks,  and  the  streets  were  crowded  with  de 
spairing  men  and  patrolled  by  troops  to  prevent 
rioting.  No  goods  were  selling,  no  business 
stirring,  no  houses  building,  and  lots  which  a 
year  before  brought  any'  price  for  fear  they 
might  run  away,  were  now  not  salable  at  all. 
In  England,  also,  everything  was  tending  to  a 
like  commercial  crisis. 

But  men  learn  very  soon  how  to  make  the 
best  of  loss,  and,  in  spite  of  it,  to  enjoy  the 
pleasures  still  remaining.  Gradually  New  York 
recovered  her  energy,  and  when  the  Major  and 
Virginia  returned  home  in  September,  there 
ivere  no  signs  on  the  surface  of  life  of  the  past 
trouble.  Vandenhoff,  Forest,  and  Mr.  Wallack 
\vere  playing  in  various  theaters.  Young  Louis 
Napoleon  Bonaparte  was  just  surrendering  his 
promenade  on  Broadway  to  Keokvjk  and  Black 
Hawk  and  their  bands  of  Sauk,  Fpx,  dnd  Sioux 
Indians;  and  the  glorious  fall  weather,  sunny, 
cool,  and  full  of  cheerful  vigor,  was  flooding 
the  streets  with  life  and  hope. 

"fust  before  the  winter"     These  words,   so 


446  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

full  of  promise,  were  never  long  out  of  Virgin 
ia's  mind,  and  their  influence,  combined  with 
the  fresh  salt  air,  had  made  a  great  change  in 
her  condition.  She  had  been  very  near  the 
grave,  and  she  had  brought  back  from  that  mys 
terious  travel  marks  which  time  would  never 
quite  efface;  no,  nor  happiness;  no,  nor  yet 
love.  But  she  was  now  able  to  take  an  interest 
in  life,  and  in  some  measure  to  perform  its  du 
ties.  Many  thought  she  had  lost  beauty  and 
grace  ;  those  who  saw  clearer  perceived  the 
rarer  delicacy  of  her  bloom,  and  the  refinement 
of  all  that  was  before  lovely  and  womanly  in 
her. 

She  watched,  she  waited,  she  listened  even 
in  her  sleep.  Her  life  was  all  attention.  And 
every  one  in  the  house  shared  her  vigil,  though 
little  allusion  was  made  to  it.  No  sign,  how 
ever,  came  to  her.  September  and  October 
passed,  and  November — though  the  Indian 
summer  tinged  its  first  days — was  gradually 
taking  on  the  cold,  gray  lights  and  darker 
shadows  of  approaching  winter.  One  night,  as 
she  sat  quiet  by  her  father's  side,  there  was  a 
quick  knock  at  the  door.  Her  face  flushed, 
but  she  shook  her  head  in  answer  to  his  look. 
"  It  is  not  the  step  of  Marius."  The  Major 
laid  down  his  book  and  rose  to  welcome  the 
coming  visitor.  John  Paul  Keteltas  came 
hurriedly  into  the  room. 

"  My  friend,"  he  said,  "  very  bad  news  has 


THE  HAVEN  WHERE  THEY  WOULD  BE.      447 

come  to  me.  Nigel  Forfar  has  been  murdered, 
and  I  must  go  to  my  Jane." 

"  Murdered !  " 

"  By  the  mother  of  those  four  children  we 
saved.  This  is  the  end  of  a  bad  marriage.  I 
must  go  to  my  Jane,  who  is  ill  and  likely  to  be 
a  mother  again  ere  I  reach  her." 

"What  can  I  do?" 

"  There  are  many  things  you  can  do  for  me, 
my  friend,"  and  he  sat  down  and  took  several 
papers  from  his  pocket,  and  as  rapidly  as  pos 
sible  explained  his  desires  to  Major  Mason. 

"  I  a?k  you  to  do  these  things  for  me,"  he 
said,  "because  I  may  be  some  weeks  from  New 
York.  I  shall  make  an  end  of  all  my  interests 
in  Tennessee,  and  bring  my  daughter  back  with 
me.  Such  changes  are  not  made  with  a  wish 
and  a  word." 

"  What  will  Jane  do  with  the  plantation  ? 
Perhaps  she  may  wish  to  live  on  it." 

"  My  dear,  the  plantation  is  all  mine.  I  own 
the  land  and  the  house  and  the  slaves,  big  and 
little.  I  shall  make  the  slaves  free  as  I  am. 
I  shall  sell  house  and  land,  and  divide  the 
money  among  them." 

Then  Virginia  rose  and  kissed  him,  and  he 
continued  :  "Yes,  my  dear,  I  will  have  none  of 
the  price  of  it,  not  one  dollar.  I  will  give  my 
poor  Jane  your  kiss  and  your  love,  and  I  will 
look  to  see  you  red  and  fresh  as  my  finest  roses 
are  when  I  come  back  again." 


<4S  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

He  did  not  delay  longer.  He  was  full  of 
anxious  hurry,  and  he  had  the  air  of  a  man 
who  is  pressed  to  the  accomplishment  of  some 
belated  duty.  His  farewell  words  to  the  Major 
indicated  it  : 

a  I  must  go  quickly,  lest  worse  come." 

The  Major  could  read  no  longer.  He  began 
to  walk  about  the  floor  and  talk  to  Virginia. 
"  Forfar  was  a  cruel  man,  but  this  is  a  great 
retribution." 

"  I  have  heard  you  say  that  crime  and  punish 
ment  grow  out  of  one  stem — in  this  case,  how 
true!  Jane  will  be  broken-hearted." 

"I  think  not.  The  golden  image  of  jane's 
love  has  been  long  thrown  down.  Jane  will 
weep  for  a  short  time,  and  then  forget.  You 
will  see  her  here  soon :  her  fair  hair  and  fair 
face  showing  very  handsome  in  folds  and  veil 
ings  of  blackest  crape.  I  trust  she  may  yet 
have  happiness  enough  to  redeem  her  lost 
years." 

"  Father,  how  can  a  woman  forget  her  first 
love?" 

"  Easily,  if  her  first  love  teach  her  the  lesson, 
I  know,  from  what  John  Paul  has  told  me,  that 
Nigel  Forfar  took  infinite  pains  to  make  his 
wife  despise  him.  He  courted  her  hatred  as 
once  he  courted  her  love.  Really,  he  never 
forgave  her  the  loss  of  the  boys  Alexander  and 
Stephen." 

"  Indeed,  father,  I   was  not  sure  if  in   that 


THE  HAVEN  WHERE  THEY  WOUL^  BE.      449 

matter  Jane  was  just  and  right.  A  wife  should 
be  loyal  to  her  husband." 

"Right  or  wrong?" 

"Perhaps.  At  any  rate,  if  Jane  had  done 
her  full  duty  to  Nigel,  and  left  the  righting  of 
the  wrong  to  God,  this  deed  would  have  freed 
the  four  children  without  her  paying  the  price 
she  did." 

"  It  was  not  in  Jane's  nature  to  wait.  She 
fought  the  wrong,  and  she  fought  her  own 
misery,  from  first  to  last." 

"  She  was  small  and  sandy  haired — you 
know";  and  Virginia  smiled  sadly.  "I  did 
not  fight,  father ;  I  just  fell  prostrate." 

"  Against  some  blows,  falling  is  the  only 
fencing,  my  dear." 

"Poor  Jane!  She  was  so  sanguine  when  I 
last  saw  her ;  so  anxious  to  put  all  wrong  right ; 
so  full  of  renewed  love  for  her  husband.  I 
think  she  can  never  get  over  such  a  blow." 

"  I  tell  you  she  will,  and  I  think  no  worse  of 
Jane  because  I  read  her  future  so.  She  will 
return  with  her  father.  She  will  rule  the  old 
man  absolutely  through  his  grandchildren. 
The  large  silent  house  will  soon  echo  with 
little  feet  and  voices;  and  anon  Jane  will  go 
into  society,  and  be  very  popular,  and  much 
admired.  I  think  she  will  marry  young  Van 
Schaick  :  he  is  handsome  and  very  rich,  and  he 
told  me  that  if  he  had  not  been  in  Europe 
when  Jane  married  Forfar,  he  would  have 


45°  SHE   LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

given  the  Southerner  a  harder  task  to  win  her. 
I  think  he  loved  Jane  truly." 

"Then  he  ought  to  have  said  so  before  he 
went  to  Europe.  He  made  Jane  miserable 
many  a  time.  I  despise  a  man  who  is  always 
arguing  a  question  with  himself,  and  never 
able  to  come  to  a  decision." 

"  It  is  better  to  argue  a  question  without 
deciding  it  than  to  decide  it  without  arguing 
it." 

"  Not  in  love,  father.  To  show  a  warmth 
that  is  not  to  be  shared,  or  even  communi 
cated  ! — nothing  is  colder." 

The  subject  of  Jane's  sudden  trouble  and  of 
her  future,  was  not  to  be  talked  away  or  into 
the  background.  Not  even  Nelly's  decided 
opinions  on  it  could  settle  the  tragedy  in  Vir 
ginia's  mind.  It  kept  her  waking  all  night ;  it 
filled  her  mind  as  she  wearily  went  about  her 
occupations  in  the  morning;  it  added  a  kind 
of  gloomy  atmosphere  to  her  own  delayed 
hopes  and  scarcely  articulate  doubts  and  fears. 
The  day  was  dark  and  rainy ;  the  trees  deso 
lated  ;  even  her  desperate  hope  could  hardly 
deny  much  longer  the  actual  presence  of  winter. 

The  Major  had  begun  to  grow  nervous  and 
anxious  ;  he  could  not  endure  to  sit  in  the 
company  of  such  sharp  yet  dumb  inquiry;  he 
felt  that  even  while  Virginia  talked  with  him 
her  heart  was  fluttering  with  expectation  or 
sick  with  delay,  and  that  it  cost  her  a  great  effort 


THE  HAVEN  WHERE   THEY  WOULD  BE.      45 1 

to  understand  and  answer  his  remarks  if  there 
was  the  slightest  unusual  movement.  This 
morning  he  found  her  especially  listless  and 
unsettled,  and  he  determined  to  go  down  town 
and  leave  her  at  least  that  liberty  of  solitude 
which  her  visible  suffering  asked. 

About  eleven  o'clock  Nelly  looked  into  the 
parlor  with  a  face  that  at  once  startled  Vir 
ginia.  "  What  is  it,  Nelly  ?  Nelly,  what  is 
it?" 

"John  Thomas,  Miss.  He  wants  badly  to 
see  you — that  is,  I  want  him  to  tell  you  a  bit 
'if  a  story  he  lies  heard." 

"  A  story  he  has  heard  !     Where,  Nelly  ?  " 

"  He  took  the  master  to  the  Exchange,  and 
ihen  master  told  him  not  to  keep  the  horses 
standing  in  the  cold  and  wet,  but  to  run  them 
iack  to  stable.  Well,  Miss,  he  were  obeying 
orders,  when  Adam  Casely  hailed  him  ;  Adam 
was  able  seaman  on — the  'Arethusa.'  " 

"  Nelly,  what  are  you  going  to  tell  me  ?  " 

"  John  Thomas,  come  in,  and  say  your  say. 
Don't  you  be  afraid,  Miss.  John  Thomas  was 
niver  the  one  to  bring  bad  news  to  any  one." 

John  Thomas  came  shyly  in.  He  was  a  tall, 
massive  Yorkshire  youth,  dressed  partly  like  an 
hostler  and  partly  like  a  sailor.  His  scrimp 
corduroy  nethers  and  big  shoes  gave  him  the 
air  of  the  stable,  but  he  wore  a  sailor's  blouse, 
with  its  low,  square  collar,  and  his  eyes  re 
minded  one  of  the  sea.  He  balanced  his  hat 


*52  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

.irmly  between  his  hands,  and  was  awkward  and 
uncertain,  though  he  looked  with  an  honest, 
open-faced  kindness  straight  into  Virginia's 
troubled  eyes. 

"John  Thomas,  what  have  you  to  tell  me  ? 
Nothing  sorrowful — nothing  disappointing?" 

"  Not  I,  Miss.  I'm  none  of  that  kind.  I 
couldn't  be  hired  for  any  amount  of  brass  to 
bring  you  bad  news.  T'  long  and  t'  short  of 
it  is,  I  met  Adam  Casely,  and  he  says  that 
Captain  Bradford  isn't  many  knots  behind 
him." 

"  Now,  Miss,  don't  you  take  on.  Hev  a 
mouthful  of  wine.  There's  nothing  to  cry 
about."  Then,  turning  to  John  Thomas — 
"  Go  on,  my  lad  !  Tell  your  story  straight,  if 
you  hev  that  much  mense  and  sense." 

"  I  said,  '  Adam,  whativer  hes  come  to  the 
41  Arethusa  ? "  '  and  he  said,  'Burned  to  t' 
water's  edge.'  'Where? 'says  I.  'In  a  varry 
bad  quarter  northeasterly  off  Newfoundland, 
twenty-sixth  day  of  April,  1836.'  '  Come,  I'll 
get  down  and  tie  my  horses,'  said  I,  'and  we'll 
hev  a  drink,  and  tell  me  all  about  it,'  and  he 
said,  'I  will.'" 

Nelly  looked  at  him  indignantly.  "  Keep 
thysen  and  Adam  Casely  out  of  it,  will  ta  ? 
Tell  a  straight  story,  now." 

"  Varry  well,  then.  It  was  on  the  morning 
of  the  25th  they  found  fire  in  the  hold,  and  all 
that  day  and  night  the  captain  fought  it,  as  if 


THE  HAVEN  WHERE  THEY  WOULD  BE.      453 

it  was  a  man  to  wrestle  with.  He  were  black 
and  burned,  and  he  hed  the  carpenters  build 
ing  a  big  raft  over  his  head,  but  he  fought  it 
all  the  same  like  a  madman,  niver  knowing  if 
the  smoke  choked  or  the  flame  burnt  him,  till 
all  was  hopeless  as  doom.  Then  he  came  on 
deck,  stern  and  quiet,  and  ordered  ivery  one  to 
their  places.  Four  women  and  two  childer  he 
put  in  the  big  boat  with  the  first  officer,  and  as 
many  of  the  passengers  as  she  would  hold  ; 
others  upon  the  raft.  Adam  and  sixteen  men 
were  in  the  captain's  boat,  and  work  enough  to 
save  them  all,  for  the  fire  had  got  its  awn  ill 
way  at  last ;  and  before  the  captain  left  the 
ship  it  was  a  wall  of  flame  about  him.  No 
screaming,  no  swearing,  varry  little  speaking. 
4  Do  this,  do  that ;  go  now,  go  there,'  was  all 
the  captain  said,  but  ivery  one  was  taken  safe 
off." 

"  And  the  captain  also  ?  " 

"  Well,  Miss,  Captain  Bradford  was  the  last 
to  leave  the  '  Arethusa.'  She  was  then  sway 
ing  about,  and  crying  and  roaring  like  a 
creature  in  mortal  pain.  But  though  he 
hedn't  a  moment  to  spare,  he  took  the  flag  in 
his  hands,  and  lifted  it  to  his  lips,  and  then 
run  it  well  up,  and  the  fire  breezes  blew  it  out, 
and  by  the  time  he  hed  reached  the  boat  the 
mizzen-mast  and  yards  were  on  fire,  and  the 
flarr.r  caught  the  stars  and  stripes  ;  and  when 
the  captain  saw  that,  he  let  his  head  fall  into 


454  SHE   LOVED   A    SAILOR. 

his  burnt   and   blistered   hands,  and   began  to 
sob  like  a  little  lad." 

"  Now,  Miss  !  now,  Miss!  I  wouldn't  cry  if  I 
was  you.  Whya,  I  could  laugh  for  varry  joy 
that  God  Almighty  makes  such  men.  Go  on, 
John  Thomas." 

"  I  asked  Adam  what  next,  and  he  said, 
sorrow  on  sorrow.  Till  dark  the  boats  kept 
together,  for  they  were  to  follow  the  captain's 
boat  back  to  Newfoundland,  if  so  be  they 
could  make  it  ;  but  a  great  fog  came  up  with 
the  night  chill,  and  in  the  morning  they  were 
all  alone.  Please,  Miss,  I'd  rayther  not  say 
anything  ab.out  the  next  twelve  days.  Only 
the  captain  and  six  men  lived  through  them, 
and  they  were  at  death's  door  when  the 
4  Polly  Palmer,'  a  whaler  out  of  Marblehead, 
came  alongside.  By  that  time  the  captain  was 
varry  bad  ;  the  hunger  and  thirst  and  fever, 
and  the  misery  of  arms  burnt  from  finger  ends 
to  shoulder  blades,  had  left  very  little  life  in 
him.  He  was  quite  off  his  senses,  and,  Adam 
said,  fretting  himself  beyond  iverything  for  a 
little  maid  he  was  to  hev  married." 

He  stopped  a  moment  and  looked  at  his 
mistress  and  at  his  wife.  Virginia  stood  up 
right,  with  dilated  eyes  and  flushed  cheeks, 
and  hands  firmly  grasping  the  back  of  a  chair. 
Nelly  stood  beside  her,  crying  with  a  frank 
freeness,  more  sympathetic,  however,  than  sor 
rowful.  She  nodded  imperatively  to  John 


THE  HAVEN  WHERE   THEY  WOULD  BE.      455 

Thomas's  look  of  inquiry,  and  he  obeyed  its 
order. 

"  The  captain  of  the  '  Polly  Palmer '  hed 
just  been  married,  and  he  hed  a  fellow-feeling 
for  his  shipmate.  Adam  says  they  grew  to  be 
varry  close  friends  in  all  their  troubles,  and 
they  weren't  few,  for  the  '  Polly  Palmer  '  hed 
little  luck  that  summer,  and  she  pushed  a  bit 
too  far  north,  and  got  shut  in  by  the  ice — just 
packed  in  it — and  a  long  winter  to  live  through. 
Some  got  through  it,  and  some  died,  and  it 
was  well  on  summer  again  before  the  '  Polly 
Palmer '  could  stir  out  of  her  ice  prison,  and  then 
her  captain  hed  to  load,  and  the  whales  off 
where  they  shouldn't  hev  been,  and  hard  to 
find,  and  the  men  trusting  all  to  Captain  Marius, 
who,  Adam  says,  is  a  whaler  beyond  ivery- 
thing,  throwing  the  harpoon  as  if  that  was  the 
only  business  he  hed  iver  hed  in  his  life,  and 
leading  the  boats  and  working  and  loading  as 
if  the  ship  and  loading  were  his  varry  ransom." 

"  I  know  !  I  know  !  I  know  he  would  be 
faithful  !  But,  oh  !  John  Thomas,  where  is  he 
now  ?" 

"  He  left  the  whaler  at  Marblehead,  he  and 
his  six  men,  and,  as  luck  would  hev  it,  the 
'  Sprightly  Ann  '  and  the  '  Sea  Rover  '  were 
just  ready  to  lift  anchor  for  New  York.  Bits 
of  boats  both  of  them,  but  right  enough  for 
coasters,  only  not  able  to  take  all  together. 
So  Adam  and  two  of  his  mates  came  in  the 


45 6  SHE   LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

4  Sprightly  Ann,'  and  landed  this  morning  at 
nine  o'clock.  Captain  Bradford  and  the  other 
three  men  are  in  the  '  Sea  Rover,'  and  like 
enough  to  be  at  anchor  now — and  the  trouble 
all  over,  Miss,  and  nothing  but  a  sailor's  for 
tune  after  all.  The  sea  is  a  hard  mother  to 
her  sons,  Miss — knocks  them  about  all  their 
lives,  and  at  the  long  end  gives  them  a  grave. 
Nay,  nay,  Miss,  I'd  niver  cry  for  a  trouble  that 
is  over ;  it  isn't  worth  the  compliment,"  for 
Virginia  had  broken  down  at  last,  and  was 
crying  for  very  pride  and  joy  in  Nelly's  arms. 

That  wise  young  woman  knew  better  than  to 
encourage  her.  She  turned  first  to  her  hus 
band  :  "  John  Thomas,  I'd  go  back  to  my 
work,  if  I  was  thee ; "  and  then  to  Virginia : 
"  Come,  Miss,  you  hevn't  a  minute  to  spare  for 
crying  now.  I  should  think  you  would  like  to 
give  some  orders  about  dinner ;  a  man  that  hes 
been  on  a  whaler  nearly  twenty  months  wants 
a  bit  of  freshness  in  his  victuals  ;  and  I  wouldn't 
hev  the  captain  see  me  in  that  gown,  if  I  was 
you  ;  it  is  varry  unbecoming,  and  I  allays  said 
so." 

Nellie  had  touched  the  right  key.  A  spirit 
of  pleasant  hurry  soon  filled  the  house.  There 
was  a  little  culinary  discussion,  and  then  Vir 
ginia  went  to  her  drawers  and  took  out  the 
pretty  new  dresses  that  had  been  made  for  her 
bridal,  and  looked  at  them  with  that  critical 
eve  which  includes  another's  taste.  None  of 


THE  HAVEN  WHERE   THEY  WOULD  BE.      457 

them  seemed  so  appropriate  as  one  made 
specially  for  the  sea — a  dark  blue  cloth,  with  a 
loose  waist  falling  away  slightly  from  her  white 
throat,  where  it  was  closed  with  a  silk  kerchief 
tied  in  a  sailor's  knot.  Large  shell  combs  held 
up  the  coronal  of  her  hair  behind,  and  in  front 
it  fell  in  these  soft  drooping  curls  which,  what 
ever  the  wearers  of  frizzes  and  pompadours  and 
bangs  may  think,  are  infinitely  womanly  and 
enticing. 

A  soft  blush  on  her  cheeks,  the  very  light  of 
love  in  her  eyes.  The  Major  came  home  for 
lunch,  and  before  she  told  him  a  word  of  the 
wondrous  story,  he  read  it  in  her  face,  her 
voice,  her  manner,  her  dress.  And  he  rejoiced 
in  her  joy.  With  a  sweet  thoughtfulness,  he 
resolved  to  go  down  to  the  wharf  at  which  the 
"  Sprightly  Ann  "  anchored  and  wait  for  the 
"  Sea  Rover." 

Then  Virginia  grew  restless,  anxious,  dis 
turbed  with  her  happiness.  Movement  of 
some  kind  became  an  imperative  demand. 
She  went  to  her  room  and  unlocked  the  drawer 
in  which  her  wedding  robe  had  been  laid  away. 
She  spread  out  the  rich  white  satin  and  lace, 
the  long  blonde  veil,  the  wreath  of  white 
roses,  the  trimmed  gloves,  the  satin  slippers, 
all  the  fair  adornments  she  had  locked  from 
her  sight  with  such  heart-breaking  sorrow  and 
disappointment. 

She  was  so  occupied  with  this  and  kindred 


45 8  SHE  LOVED  A    SAILOR. 

occupations  that  she  suddenly  became  aware 
that  the  short  winter  afternoon  was  wearing 
away  into  gloom  and  darkness.  Marius  had 
not  come.  Her  father  had  not  returned.  A 
great  fear  clutched  her  by  the  heart.  She 
went  hurriedly  down-stairs  and  called  Nelly. 
Nellie  put  on  a  bravado  of  confidence,  but 
Virginia  was  sure  she  saw  anxiety  beneath  it. 

"  Is  it  late,  Nelly?" 

"Only  getting  on  to  four  o'clock.  It  is 
early  dark  now,  Miss." 

"  He  has  not  come,  Nelly." 

"Wind  and  tide  are  beyond  counting  on, 
Miss.  The  wind  changed  at  noon.  Tides 
only  come  twice  a  day.  He'll  be  here  anon  ; 
I  shouldn't  wonder  if  master  was  waiting  for 
him." 

But  Nelly  had  caught  Virginia's  worry. 
She  lit  an  extraordinary  number  of  candles 
through  the  house,  and  always  managed,  in 
placing  them,  to  excuse  herself  for  looking  out 
of  the  window.  When  she  arranged  the  parlor 
lights,  Virginia  did  not  speak.  She  had  thrown 
herself  upon  the  sofa,  and  clasped  her  hands 
above  her  eyes.  All  her  being  was  held  in  sus 
pense.  All  her  strength  was  strained  in  the 
act  of  waiting.  She  knew  that  it  was  now 
dark  in  the  street  ;  she  could  hear  the  rain 
splashing  on  the  pavement,  and  she  could  hear 
nothing  else.  If  only  the  trample  of  horses 
would  break  the  silence !  If  only  she  could 


THE  HAVEN  WHERE    THEY   WOULD  BE.      459 

hear  a  footstep !  Oh,  any  footstep  would  be 
easier  to  endure  than  none. 

Nelly  was  cross  with  anxiety  and  disappoint 
ment.  "  Men  were  always  that  way.  An  aggra 
vating  set.  Never  coming  when  they  were 
wanted  ;  always  in  the  way  when  they  were 
not  wanted.  The  Major,  too,  loitering  out-of- 
doors  at  this  hour.  I'll  give  John  Thomas  a 
dressing,"  she  muttered,  and,  with  the  unjust 
threat  on  her  lips,  she  opened  the  front  door  to 
take  another  look  down  the  dim,  wet  street. 

She  drew  herself  up  with  a  quick  gasp. 
There  was  a  man  in  a  sailor's  dress  opposite. 
He  crossed  the  street  rapidly,  he  took  the 
steps  at  a  bound,  he  held  Nelly  by  both  shoul 
ders,  and,  half  laughing  and  half  crying,  said  : 

"  Nelly,  Nelly,  can  I  go  in  ?  " 

She  pointed  to  the  parlor  door.  He  opened 
it  swiftly,  silently,  and  in  a  moment  he  was 
kneeling  by  Virginia's  side.  He  had  his  arms 
under  and  around  her.  He  was  kissing  the 
sobbing  cries  of  joy  from  off  her  lips.  His 
thirsty  eyes  were  drinking  deep  draughts  of 
love  from  her  eyes.  His  ears  were  filled  with 
the  music  of  her  voice,  and  his  whole  soul 
spoke  in  the  short,  glad  words  with  which  he 
answered  all  her  longing  and  all  her  hopes : 

"  My  love  !  my  life  !  my  wife  !  " 

THE    END. 


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